GUWAHATI, April 18 ? After a brief lull, fractional clashes between rival Bodo organisations started again as the Education Secretary of the All Bodo Students? Union (ABSU), Sri Khwawamkhang Boro was shot dead by suspected National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants at Lontibari village under Patacharkuchi police station in Barpeta district this morning. The ABSU president, Sri Rabiram Narzary said that Sri Boro, aged about 32 years, went to Lontibari village to attend a Bihu function. At around 8.30 am today, a group of armed NDFB militants dragged Sri Boro from the Bihutoli and gunned him down. The ABSU president revealed that about a year back, the NDFB had threatened Sri Boro to leave the ABSU, but he refused to do so. The NDFB also demanded an amount of Rs 50,000 from Sri Boro, but he refused to come into any kind of compromise with an anti-national force, Sri Narzary added.
Strongly condemning the killing, the ABSU president said that by starting such fratricidal killings, the NDFB was trying to stall the creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). He said, ?we have reasons to doubt that the NDFB has come into some kind of understanding with the forces opposing the creation of the BTC.? Meanwhile, the ABSU is sore over the delay in creation of the BTC and the Coordination Committee of Bodoland Movement (CCBM) has decided to launch an agitation to put pressure on the Government. Sri Narzary revealed that the CCBM would stage a six-hour demonstration at Dispur on April 22 to demand creation of BTC. A delegation of the CCBM will also proceed to New Delhi on April 25 to put pressure on the Central Government for immediate solution of the Bodo problem. The delegation will submit memorandum to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.
The ABSU president alleged that the Bodo organisations have reasons to doubt the sincerity of the Central and State Governments in finding an amicable solution to the Bodo problem. In the last round of tripartie talks, held on March 23. The Centre had asked the State Government to give specific proposals on the modification of the Sixth Schedule and to finalise the boundary of the proposed BTC, but till date, the State Government has not been able to do so. ?The Centre can amend the Sixth Schedule on its own but by pushing the ball to the Court of the State Government, the Centre has proved that it is not too keen to take the responsibility,? the ABSU president pointed out.