The Forum for Terrorist Victim Family Assam, an umbrella group of families of victims of militancy in Assam, has decided to take legal action against the demand for general amnesty to the rank and file of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) factions.
The demand for providing general amnesty to the cadres and leaders of the NDFB’s four factions was raised following the Bodo Peace Accord signed on January 27, 2020. The forum believes that this move will encourage militancy and disrespect judiciary.
Forum founder Dhananjoy Saikia told The Telegraph, “We have no issues if the government wants to work for the welfare of the Bodo people but negotiating with militant leaders is unfortunate. The militants who killed innocent people will be now treated as VIPs in the name of peace talks. This is shameful! Such kind of peace treaty will only encourage armed movement. We will write to the Chief Justice of India, seeking his intervention to uphold justice at any cost.”
Saikia’s father Kamala Saikia was killed by Ulfa militants in 1991.
Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Hagrama Mohilary and All Bodo Students’ Union (Absu) have urged the government to withdraw the cases against Ranjan Daimari and others.
Altogether 1,615 cadres and leaders of the NDFB’s four factions, led by Ranjan Daimari, Gobinda Basumatary, Dhirendra Boro and B. Saoraigwra, laid down arms in accordance with the Bodo Accord. The state government plans to chalk out a proper mechanism for their rehabilitation.
Last year, a fast-track court had sentenced Daimari to rigorous life imprisonment in connection with the serial blast that killed over 90 persons in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Barpeta Road on October 30, 2008. There are at least 13 cases against Daimari, who was released on bail to participate in the peace process.
Naren Tumung, an auto driver who was paralysed for life after being injured in a blast at Ganeshuguri here, said, “I lost everything and now those who are responsible for my condition will live normally. He should have been hung but was granted life imprisonment and now he is free and standing on the same platform as our leaders. Isn’t this a mockery of the judiciary?”
After the Centre signed the Bodo Peace Accord, Union home minister Amit Shah welcomed the NDFB militants into the mainstream and said, “They are not militants now, all are our brothers.”
Naren’s mother Golapi said, “They (politicians) might consider such killers as their brothers but not me. I will never consider him (Daimari) as anything but a murderer.”
Most of the victims belong to financially poor backgrounds such as small traders and rickshaw pullers.
PM visit
Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Kokrajhar on Saturday to take stock of the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on February 7.
Modi will attend a welcome rally of the Bodo Accord.
Sarma along with administrative and police officials visited three locations and finally selected Jangkritai Fwtar as the place for the rally.
Additional reporting by Shajid Khan in Udalguri and Rinoy Basumatary in Kokrajhar
