Kokrajhar MP Naba Sarania on Saturday claimed that the armed conflict that persisted for years in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) areas has not ended even after signing of the third Bodoland Territorial Region Accord.

Asking the state government to depute maximum security forces for a smooth conduct of the ensuing BTC election scheduled in April, Sarania said, “The non-Bodo leaders are being selectively targeted and threatened by certain people equipped with arms. Our leaders have been suffering owing to repeated intimidation.”

The Independent MP alleged that certain people are roaming freely in uniform and with arms. “We have also requested the administration to provide security personnel to protect the non-Bodo leaders who are categorically targeted by the armed men,” the MP said.

Sarania said his newly formed political party, the Gana Suraksha Samity, is all set to occupy power in the BTC for which the current BTC chief and the head of Bodoland Peoples’ Front Hagrama Mohilary is creating an atmosphere of terror in the areas ahead of the April election.

“However, no force can stop the Gana Surkasha Samity from occupying power in the BTC this time. Hagrama has done enough injustice to the people of BTC.”

The Kokrajhar MP also urged the state government to scrutinise the utilization certificates submitted by the BTC administration to check the volume of corruption. “The financial anomalies took place in the BTC over the past 15 years is more than Rs 1,000 crore. No one involved with the anomalies should be spared,” he said.

Stressing that the Gana Suraksha Samity will occupy BTC this time, Sarania said, “Hagrama is punctured. He is no more a factor for us. He is politically isolated now. Most of the BPF leaders, including the MLA and MPs, are readying to join the BJP.”

The MP also criticized United Peoples’ Party Liberal chief Pramod Boro. “Boro did not dare consult the non-Bodo communities living in the BTC before signing the BTR Accord. He simply betrayed us. Therefore, Gana Suraksha Samity is the only party that the people of BTC will trust this time to take charge of the council,” Sarania said.

Sarania made it clear that the Samity will pitch candidates in all the 40 council constituencies.

“We have almost shortlisted our final list of candidates. The moment the election notification is published, we will announce our list of candidates within 48 hours,” he added.