Insurgency / Assam

Guwahati, Feb. 21: Jailed Ulfa vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, during his testimony at the fast track court, today denied that the outfit’s central committee had taken any decision to assassinate social worker Sanjoy Ghose.

The CBI named Gogoi a witness in the case as he was underground when the Ulfa abducted Ghose, general secretary of the Association of Voluntary Agencies for Rural Development (AVARD), on July 4, 1997. Ghose was later reportedly killed on Majuli island in Jorhat district.

Gogoi said he had no knowledge about the killing as he was in the political and not the armed wing of Ulfa...

Jorhat, Feb. 19: A surrendered militant was among 15 people rounded up by the CBI from the river island of Majuli to testify in the Sanjoy Ghose case. Police sources here said the former militant had surrendered soon after Ghose’s abduction made newspaper headlines.

The Ulfa had abducted Ghose, a social worker involved in an anti-erosion project in Majuli, in 1997. It is presumed that he was killed the same day and his body thrown into the Brahmaputra.

The case is being heard in the court of the additional ad hoc sessions judge, Kamrup.

The CBI had previously brought five witnesses, including...

KOKRAJHAR, Feb 19 — More than 1.61 lakh persons, affected by the ethnic riots in Kokrajhar district in 1996 and 1998, are still languishing in 49 relief camps spreading all over the district. Though the State Government has started the process of rehabilitation of the relief camp inmates, the process is very slow because of paucity of funds. According to records available, as many as 1,10,269 persons, including 71386 adults and 38883 minors of 21,523 families, are living in 26 relief camps in Gossaigaon subdivision, while, 51,393 persons including 34,063 adults and 17,330 minors of 8660...

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...

Silchar, Feb. 17: Police outposts along the forest-covered border areas of south Assam’s Hailakandi district have been alerted to possible attacks by the newly-formed United Liberation Front of Barak Valley.

Members of the outfit attacked a Bru family at Ashram Basti village on Sunday, injuring a woman and two children. Official sources today said one Nandeswar Reang led the assailants.

The injured have been identified as Karishma Reang (30), Jamuna Reang (8) and Ganga Reang (6).

Some members of the Mizoram-based Bru National Liberation Front floated the United Liberation Front of Barak...

Maidangshrinwgwr (Kokrajhar), Feb. 16: After successfully anchoring the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) to a new accord, the All-Bodo Students’ Union (Absu) today volunteered to help the banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) start a dialogue with the Centre.

Addressing the open session of the three-day 35th annual conference of the students’ organisation, its president Rabiram Narzary said, “This is the right time for the NDFB to come forward for negotiations. The gun culture of the Bodo heartland should come to a permanent end before the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) takes...

KOKRAJHAR, Feb 14 ? In a significant development National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) welcomed the BTC accord by entering a gate with the words ?welcome BTC accord. We want revolution Bodo of the world unity? at Banargaon the 35th annual conference of ABSU

New Delhi/ Guwahati, Feb 10: Fresh from its talks with the NSCN (I-M) to try and return peace to the Naga hills at an early date, the Centre has clinched another accord in the North East: this time with the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), hoping to end strife in Assam’s Bodo-inhabited areas.

In a tripartite agreement signed today, the Centre, Assam and the BLT decided on the creation of an autonomous, self-governing Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) which would replace the existing Bodoland Autonomous Council.

As many as 3,082 villages have been identified for inclusion in the proposed BTC...

Feb. 10: Upbeat Bodo leaders today promised not to commit the ?same mistakes? which led to the failure of the 1993 accord but sought the co-operation of their ?Assamese brethren? for the success of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

?Let me assure you, there will be no repetition of what happened with the 1993 Accord, which was done in a hurried manner,? BLT leader Mainao Daimary said after signing of the pact in New Delhi today between the outfit, the Centre and the Assam government.

However, the accord drew a sharp retort from the apex non-Bodo organisation ? Sanmilita Janagosthiya...

Q What is your reaction to the signing of the Bodo Territorial Council?

A My happiness doesn?t require any specific elaboration. The way the agreement was signed was really satisfactory.




Now we are looking forward to the formation of the interim council by next week.





Q In what way will the BTC bring about changes in the lives of the Bodos?




A We are hopeful of positive changes. Everything that has been incorporated in the council will bring about a sea-change in various aspects. The fact that the Bodo language will be incorporated in the Eighth Schedule is a landmark achievement for the...