The deputy chief of the NDFB (Saoraigwra) faction, M. Batha, 43, was officially reunited with his family after 25 years at his native village Daloabari in Kokrajhar district of lower Assam, on Sunday.
A video widely shared on Facebook shows Batha reuniting with his daughter, a 16-year-old who will take her board exams on Monday. She broke down as he hugged her. The clip, shared by a Facebook community page “Switoban”, has racked up over 17,000 views and been shared 336 times.
A red carpet welcome was accorded to the leader — who had left home in 1995 — by the villagers.
They turned up with cultural troupes and drums to welcome Batha who was accompanied by other leaders of the NDFB (S) faction, including its president B. Saoraigwra, general secretary B.R. Ferenga and vice-president G. Bidai.
Executive member of the Bodoland Territorial Council Rajiv Brahma was also present.
Emotional scenes were witnessed in Daloabari, 9km from Kokrajhar town, and 210km from Guwahati, where Batha’s family members and elderly villagers turned emotional after meeting him.
The villagers danced to the tunes of traditional Bagrumba dance as Batha, whom they fondly call “Hangla”, returned home.
Batha’s wife, Anjita Mushahary grew nostalgic after meeting her husband. “I am unable to express my happiness in words as my husband will now lead a social life,” she said.
The former rebel leader was showered with petals as he sought the blessings of senior citizens by touching their feet.
“I am elated and grateful to be back home and meet my family,” an emotional Batha said.
On January 22, he reached Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar from the dense forests of Bhutan from where he has been operating and was welcomed with open arms.
Saoraigwra said: “The government is very positive about implementation of the clauses of the pact and we sincerely hope that it will do the needful in a time-bound manner.”
He exhorted people irrespective of caste, creed and community to join hands and be stakeholders of peace and development as the pact, he said, is not only for the “welfare” of Bodos, but also for everyone residing in the Bodo belt.
