Politics / Assam

KOKRAJHAR, Dec 7 ? A new chapter in political history of Assam got under way today with the swearing in of the interim body of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in presence of the Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani. Meanwhile, taking this opportunity, the Deputy Prime Minister called upon all the militants groups of India to follow the path shown by the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) and to come forward for talks with the Government for solving their problems.

A 12 member interim council of the BTC, headed by former chief of the BLT Hagrama Basumatary alias Hagrama Mohilary, was sworn in by...

Kokrajhar, Dec. 6: Adivasi Seva Samity chairman Badan Hasda, who is among the two non-Bodos in the 12-member interim Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) Council, today oozed confidence in the new administrative set-up. ?The new administrative set-up would go a long way in meeting the hopes and aspirations of the local populace by ushering in development,? the Adivasi leader said.

Reviewing rehabilitation schemes at the Joypur relief camp in Kokrajhar district today, Hasda said, ?As a non-Bodo and more so as an Adivasi leader, I believe the democratic and political rights of non-Bodos...

KOKRAJHAR, Dec 6 ? The BLT today laid down a huge cache of weapons and ammunition before the Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Union Minister of State for Home Swami Chinmayanand. The arms laid down by the BLT include 303 rifles ? 138, SLR? 11, hand made cartridge gun ? 110, gelatine gallon ? 18, AK-47 rifles ? 64, M 16 rifles ? nine, M21 rifles ? seven, tear gas ? one, two-inch mortar ? one, sten gun ? 24, 35 mm grenade ? 72, Chinese grenade ? 34, nine mm carbine ? 16, nine mm grenade ? two, nine mm pistol ? 32, 50 round nine mm pistol ? one, US carbine ? 13...

GUWAHATI, Dec 6- The CPI-ML leader and the MP from Diphu, Dr Jayanta Rongpi today warned of backlash from Karbis against Kukis unless the government succeeds in controlling the marauding Kuki militants in the violence-hit Karbi Anglong. Talking to newsmen here Dr Rongpi said, ?The situation in Karbi Anglong which is dogged by conflict between the UPDS and KRA outfits, is much more grave than what appears on the surface.?

He expressed concern over the failure of the State government to control the violence which erupted way back on November 2 last, the CPI-ML leader demanded immediate action...

KOKRAJHAR, Dec 6 ? Kokrajhar today witnessed a historic event as all the 2,641 members of militant outfit Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) laid down their arms before the Assam Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and the Union Minister of State for Home, Swami Chinmayanand, to bring an end to an era of violence in the Bodo-dominated areas of Assam. Immediately thereafter, the BLT chief Hagrama Basumatary announced the disbanding of the BLT.

A festive atmosphere gripped Kokrajhar from early this morning as cross-sections of people from Kokrajhar and other parts of the...

Udalguri, Dec. 5: The banned National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) struck a discordant note on the eve of the formation of the interim Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), describing it as an exercise in futility. The militant group, which, along with the Ulfa, has been a major source of worry for Dispur, said December 6 would go down in history as the day a group of ?opportunists? surrendered the Bodo dream before Delhi.

The BTC was envisaged in the February 10 accord between the NDFB?s rival, the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), and Dispur and Delhi. The interim council will be...

Kokrajhar, Dec. 5: For the battle-weary Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) cadre, it is the moment for mixed feelings as life as a ?soldier? comes to an end. On the eve of their formal surrender to the authorities with a vow to lead normal lives, BLT cadres from different backgrounds spoke about their past and future aspirations.

Twenty-two-year-old Sanjib Basumatary and his two friends from Ambari Surubera in Nalbari district want to resume the studies they had discontinued to join the ?freedom movement? some years ago.

?We want to stand on our own feet now,? they said.

Recalling his weird past...

Kokrajhar, Dec. 5: After backing the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) all through the peace process, the powerful All Bodo Students? Union (Absu) will now don the role of the community?s policeman to ensure that the new leadership does not falter from its path. Charting a broader role for the students? organisation in the new set-up, Absu president Rabiram Narzary told The Telegraph that the union would keep a close watch on the functioning of the Bodo Territorial Council (BTC) and the implementation of the accord.

?The Absu will play a vital role from outside in the successful implementation of...

GUWAHATI, Dec 5: Defence Minister George Fernanades today stated that Pakistani ISI in collusion with the banned ULFA was trying to fish in the opportunity provided by anti-Bihari violence in Assam. Talking to newsmen at the Army base in Narengi here, Fernandes said, ?Although it was not the ISI which stoked the fire of anti-Bihari attacks in Assam, it is definitely trying to fan the fire in collusion with the banned ULFA.?

Earlier, the Defence Minister visited victims of anti-Bihari violence in Tinsukia civil hospitals and in relief camps in Doom Dooma. He was also briefed by Brigadier A K...

Kokrajhar, Dec. 4: Such a long journey ? but all?s well that ends well. For nearly 2,500 members of the Bodo Liberation Tigers, Saturday will be the last day when they will dress in combat fatigues and carry weapons, though only to lay them down. Now that the struggle for Bodoland is over. As BLT chief Hagrama Basumatary pointed out, it was a long journey, but has borne fruit in the end.

The general council meeting of the BLT at Banargaon mini-stadium on Monday authorised Hagrama to dissolve the outfit on Saturday after the surrender ceremony is completed. A total of 2,525 activists from all...