Assam: Bodo outfit seeks clarification over being forcefully let out of designated camp

The National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB) has sought a clarification from the authorities as to why they were forcefully made to vacate their designated camp in Kokrajhar last night. 

Addressing media today, NLFB general secretary N Panjari said that they want an explanation from the government as to why they were forced out of the designated camp by police without any prior intimation. He also called it a matter of political conspiracy. 

"It will be good if they clarify as to why we can't live there, because we have been living in the camp since the last four years. Why did they not say anything to us all this time? Why did they suddenly tell us to leave with the fourth year running? I request them to clarify the matter to us. It is a clear thing that this is not a police order. We can call it a political conspiracy," said Panjari.

Noteworthy is that A large contingent of Kokrajhar police yesterday evening raided the designated camp of the National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB) at Chandamari near Gaurang river in Kokrajhar town and ordered the cadres to leave the camp. A long argument went on between the police and the NLFB cadres over the matter before the cadres finally had to vacate the designated camp later in the night. 

The NLFB general secretary also said that earlier they had been pressurised to accept a sum of Rs 2 lakh each and leave the designated camp and go home. However, he stated that this is not possible until their demands are resolved. 

"Our issues cannot be resolved with just Rs 2 lakh. If our matters are resolved then we don't even want money. Among our demands, our first priority is that NDFB founder-chairman Ranjan Daimary should be released from jail because he is a signatory in the BTR Peace Accord. How can a signatory remain in jail? Also, around 63 to 65 cadres are still in jail. Also, NLFB's commander-in-chief M Batha is in jail. Our demand is that all our leaders and cadres who are in jail should be released. Then we will talk. We will disband the organisation one day for sure. But it cannot be disbanded overnight. We will disband it when our matters are resolved," said Panjari. 

Last night a huge contingent of Assam Police led by Kokrajhar Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Prithviraj Rajkhowa suddenly entered the camp of the NLFB at Chandamari in Kokrajhar and ordered all the 53 cadres staying in the designated camp to vacate the camp. After a lot of arguing, the cadres had to finally leave the camp in the middle of the night. 

Noteworthy is that the NLFB has two designated camps, one in Kokrajhar and the other in Udalguri. While the Kokrajhar camp was forcefully vacated last night, reports have come in that an order has also been passed for the vacating of the Udalguri camp. However, no action by the police has been reported yet in this regard.