KOKRAJHAR, Feb 18— The Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT), which became the first militant outfit from Assam to sign a peace accord with the Government, will be disbanded after the formation of the interim body of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), rehabilitation of the cadres of the outfit may turn out to be a tough job for the BTC authorities. Official sources said that the BLT cadres are well aware of the fact that all of them can never expect a Government job, but the BTC authorities will have to take up self-employment schemes for their rehabilitation. The BLT cadres will surrender weapons in a victory ceremony to be held immediately after the formation of the interim council.
The Memorandum of Settlement (MoS), signed between the Central and the State Governments and the BLT on February 10 said. The BLT would join the national mainstream and shun the path of violence in the interest of peace and development. After the formation of the interim council of the BTC, the BLT will dissolve itself and surrender arms within a week of the swearing in of the interim council. The State Government would provide full support to relief and rehabilitation of the members of the BLT who would surrender with arms in this process in accordance with the existing policy of the State. Financial support in such cases, however, will be limited to the provisions of the schemes prepared and funded by the Government of India. Withdrawal of cases against such persons and those related to overground Bodo movement since 1987 shall be considered according to the existing policy of the State of Assam.
The Accord further said that Bodo youths will be considered for recruitment in police, army and paramilitary forces to increase their representation in these forces. Armed BLT cadres were moving around openly during the 35th annual conference of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), which concluded in Bongaigaon in Kokrajhar district on February 16 and they were involved in providing ‘security’ to the Bodo leaders. The senior leaders of the BLT including its chairman Hagrama Basumatary were also camping in Bonorgaon to hold talks with the leaders of the ABSU and other Bodo mass organisations on the composition of the interim council. The BLT chief said that they would not retain any weapon after the disbanding of the organisation and it would be the duty of the Government to provide necessary security to them.
The BLT chief said that the outfit has about two thousand cadres and the Government would absorb some of them in Army and para-military forces as per the provisions of the Accord only as per their eligibility. He admitted that all their cadres would not get government jobs, and for their rehabilitation, the BTC would take up proper self employment schemes. The leaders of the BLT will soon undertake a tour of all the districts of the State and prepare district-wise list of the cadres with all their qualifications for preparing schemes for their rehabilitation.