Decades-long NDFB struggle ends as organization ensigns pulled down

Our Correspondent

Kokrajhar: The decades-long armed movement of the NDFB to liberate Bodoland came to an end with the flags of all factions of the organization being pulled down in their respective designated camps on Monday and Tuesday. The flag of the NDFB (P) at Serfanguri designated camp was pulled down on Tuesday permanently by its president Gobinda Basumatary in presence of all top leaders, including 22 council members of the outfit.

On the occasion of the last flag down ceremony, the leaders and council members, as well as cadres, were seen hugging between each other emotionally. They bid farewell to each other as the designated camps were closed down following the BTR Accord which was signed on January 27 to bring sustainable development in the region.

The president of the NDFB (P), Gobinda Basumatary thanked all the leaders, council members and cadres who devoted their lives and worked hard for the cause of the society and took pain to achieve their goal. He elaborated the long armed struggle and the recently signed BTR Accord and called upon all to extend support for proper implementation of all clauses of the BTR Accord.

The general secretary of NDFB (P), S. Sanjarang, speaker B. Benga and all senior leaders were also present in the programme at Serfanguri. The NDFB was floated on October 3, 1986 in Udalguri to liberate independent Boroland by D R Nabla alias Ranjan Daimary. Earlier, it was known as Boro Security Force (BSF) but it was rechristened as NDFB in 1996. In the later part, the outfit was split into four groups led by Ranjan Daimary, Gobinda Basumatary, Dhiren Boro and B. Saoraigwra. After the BTR Accord, the leaders joined BPF and UPPL to contest in the BTC elections.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Urkhao Gwra Brahma said the struggle of the NDFB would always be remembered by the people as the BTR Accord was achieved. He said that this end should be accepted as the start of a new beginning. If all leaders and cadres set examples for the society by engaging themselves in the process of peace building, youth and women development, fighting against social evils and corruption, working for social justice and sustainable economic development, then the NDFB struggle would be remembered for another good reason in future, he said.

“Kudos to all leaders for having arrived at such a brave decision of signing this Accord by which the 34-year long armed struggle has come to an end. Disbanding the organization, which had been formed with their hands and hearts, may be a really tearful moment but that is a step for the forward journey,” he said, and hoped that everything would move in the right direction from now and they would be able to reach their destined goal.

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