GUWAHATI: In the wake of recent violence in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), the Justice & Equity Demand Samiti (JEDS) Assam has recommended that the Government of Assam should “immediately arrest and prosecute persons who made provocative speeches to trigger the recent violence as also those who instigated Govt personnel to take part in the slaughter of innocent persons living in the area.”
This was stated at a press meet at the Guwahati Press Club on Thursday, addressed by Prof. Abdul Mannan, Secretary JEDS and editor of Assamese monthly ‘Ayna’. The death toll in the violence had risen to 43 on Thursday as more dead bodies were being unearthed in different areas of the strife-torn BTAD. According to Prof Mannan, while the Police have arrested some Forest Department personnel said to be involved in the killing, “the kingpin of the planned murders has not been booked till now because of his close proximity to some important functionaries of BTAD.”
Keeping this in mind, the JEDS Assam and its allies have also recommended that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be constituted immediately under the stewardship of a retired Supreme Court Judge to inquire into the matter as the jurisdiction of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) covers acts of “terrorists alone, and they have no brief over the acts of politicians.”
The Samiti stated that a compensation of Rs. 10 Lakh be given to the next of kin of those killed in the violence and Rs. 5 Lakh to those injured in the violence. It called for adequate family pension be instituted for women widowed in the violence and Government take the responsibility of bearing the educational expenses of the children orphaned in the violence. Since providing security to the citizens is the responsibility of the Government, stated the JEDS Assam, let the Government maintain law and order with full authority.
The process of social assimilation, noted JEDS Assam, is of “utmost importance in which, besides the Govt, the civil society and the media must play a positive role.” Stating that the issue needs to be looked upon as one of human rights, the JEDS Assam extended its support for the Assam Governor’s proposal that developmental schemes at the village level in BTAD should be either through Panchayats or Village development Councils so that unwarranted mediation of politicians could be avoided. The Samiti also proposed that the RBI should conduct a special survey to establish new bank branches in the affected area so that the process of development in this backward area could be expedited.
ABSU condemns violence
GUWAHATI, MAY 8 (MExN): The All Bodo Students Union has expressed concern on the recent mass killings in Kokrajhar and Baksa district of BTAD. The Union reiterated demand for security of live and property of every citizen in the state and BTAD in particular. It informed the union will initiate a three hour dharna in Guwahati on May 7 to protest against the violence.
GUWAHATI, MAY 8 (MExN): The All Bodo Students Union has expressed concern on the recent mass killings in Kokrajhar and Baksa district of BTAD. The Union reiterated demand for security of live and property of every citizen in the state and BTAD in particular. It informed the union will initiate a three hour dharna in Guwahati on May 7 to protest against the violence.
A press note from the ABSU said that the repetition of the killing and violence in the region is damaging the spirit of unity and understanding among the communities in the area. It has been demanding the resolution of the extremist problem which has been considered as one of the sources of such violence and also to seize all illegal weapons. “Violation of human right is a crime and government machinery should take this issue more serious than any other issue in their hand,” it added.
