ABSU fears use of illegal arms in BTC poll

BONGAIGAON, March 20:  All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) fears that the third BTC poll, scheduled on April 8, would not be “free and fair” as a number of officials in civil and police administration, who are allegedly in nexus with political parties and leaders in four districts of BTAD, have not been transferred ahead of the poll.

ABSU president Pramod Boro expressed this apprehension yesterday on the sideline of a meeting organised by the Peoples’ Co-ordition for Democratic Rights, a joint forum of Bodo and non-Bodo groups active in BTAD, at Dhaligaon in Chirang district.

As a key-part of PCDR, the ABSU has taken up the job to mobilize the masses in favour of the joint forum. Today in the meeting, like other PCDR followers, the student activists also wore the white Gandhi cap on which a short slogan was printed – “Ek bar PCDR” (which meant choose PCDR once).

Boro also alleged that administration in BTAD districts have not yet seized illegal licences or weapons to ensure a violence-free election in the BTAD. Hence, the possibility of misuse of those firearms is high during and after the poll.

In some districts deputy commissioners have barred the political parties in taking out bicycle or bike rallies for election campaign which is against the ideal of democracy, Boro alleged.

Already some miscreants had attacked ABSU offices in Udalguri and Kokrajhar districts. Rival groups are trying to incite violence for their political interest and hence it is the bounden duty of the administration to act against the miscreants so that poll is conducted in a peaceful manner, Boro added.

The president also urged the chief election official to keep a vigil on those civil and police officials who have soft corners for political leaders and henchmen, who have past crimil records and still possess firearms.

The ABSU leaders also appealed to the chief election commissioner to be strict on the implementation of codes during the election so that voters of the region can exercise their franchise freely without any kind of stress.

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