Ensure security of relief camp inmates to facilitate return, Mohilary tells government

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, January 4: Coming down heavily against the tiol Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB–Songbijit) group which carried out the mindless 23/12 massacre in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts of Assam, BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary, who is also the president of the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), said the entire Bodo community could not be blamed for this bloodbath as it is done by the NDFB (S), headed by a Karbi leader, Ingti Kathar Songbijit.

At a press meet held at Bodofa Cultural Complex, Chandamari after the end of the executive meeting of the BPF on Sunday, Mohilary said the gruesome killings were carried out by Songbijit led NDFB (S) and Bodo people, as a whole, condemned the barbaric attack on innocent Adivasis. He said the entire Bodo community cannot take the responsibility of the December 23 mayhem as this is the act of a terrorist group NDFB (S) whose strength is just 100–150 cadres and headed by non–Bodo people. “Neither Bodo intellectuals nor the common Bodo people have supported the inhuman act and we cannot stay calm against such dastardly acts,” he said, adding that the government had to act tough against the Songbijit faction of the outfit.

Mohilary said there had been rumours that the government had decided to stop supplying rations and other logistic support to relief camp inmates very shortly to force the inmates to go back to their respective villages. He said the government should make security arrangements to build confidence first before forcing the inmates to return to their villages without ensuring their safety and security. He demanded that the government should extend the supply of ration and other relief materials to the camp inmates for at least one month. He cautioned that if the Government of Assam forced the relief camp inmates to return to their villages by stopping the supply of relief materials and rations without ensuring their security, then the BPF would be compelled to take up a democratic agitation.  

When asked as to what steps the BPF will take for the students in relief camps who will appear for the HSSLC and HSLC fil examition scheduled to be held from February 16, Mohilary said he had instructed the Bodoland Students’ Union (BSU) to make necessary arrangements. He also said that the BTC had been continuing supply of relief materials like tarpaulin, solar lamps, sweeter, blankets, track suits, dokhs, sarees, tin sheets and other materials to the affected people. He further said the BTC would provide Rs 1 lakh compensation to the families of the victims who died.

Meanwhile, the district administration of Kokrajhar has been trying to ensure that the relief camp inmates return to their villages as soon as possible by giving security pickets in the sensitive areas.