Go all out against Daimary, govt told |
| Guwahati, June 9 : Flush with the success of DHD (J) chief Jewel Gorlosa’s arrest and the prospects of peace returning to North Cachar Hills district, the Centre has now asked Dispur to set things right in the violence-torn Bodo belt. The Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) has been wracked by a series of crimes, but which have largely been overshadowed by the violence in the hill district. Sources today said Delhi has asked the state government to do whatever was required to restore peace in the area without considering political equations. The Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), which rules the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), is an ally of the ruling Congress in the state. The four BTAD districts are Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang and Udalguri. “The thrust area, however, is the depredations by the NDFB cadres owing allegiance to Ranjan Daimary. Reports suggest that this group has been indulging in a series of crimes, mainly extortion and abduction, besides the occasional killing,” he said. The Centre has taken note of the fact that the managing director of a firm engaged in the Salakati power project was abducted recently. “It is a very crucial project and the Centre doesn’t want it to suffer the fate of the East-West Corridor and gauge conversion projects in the North Cachar Hills, work on which has virtually come to a halt,” he said. Sources said a high-level security meeting last week decided to launch co-ordinated and sustained operations against the NDFB with special focus on Sonitpur and Chirang because these two districts have emerged as the new troublespots after NC Hills. Fuelling trouble in these two districts is the anti-talks faction of the NDFB. The superintendents of police under the northern range comprising Sonitpur, Darrang, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Udalguri districts — all in and around the BTAD — have been directed to go all out against the anti-talks NDFB which regrouped during the parliamentary elections with security forces on poll duty. Sustained operations have seen as many as 15-20 of the anti-talks NDFB cadres neutralised this month. The NDFB split on December 15, with the breakaway faction being led by Ranjan Daimary. This group is basically active in the reserve forests in Sonitpur district close to Arunachal Pradesh. “The outfit has a good network in these two districts which we want disintegrated through sustained and coordinated operations. Ulfa is also active in certain pockets. They are still confined to the jungle areas bordering Arunachal Pradesh. Both Sonitpur and Chirang police are going all out against them with help of CRPF and Assam Rifles. We have activated our resources to neutralise them and are confident of restoring normality at the earliest,” he said. The confidence stems from the coordinated approach in North Cachar Hills after the election results were out, leading to the arrest of chief executive member of the autonomous council, Mohit Hojai, for alleged links with militants, DHD (J) top guns Jewel Gorlosa and Partha Warisa. Such has been the pressure that the DHD (J) has declared a unilateral ceasefire for three months. Dispur has also transferred the SP and principal secretary of the council. While Anurag Tankha has taken over as the new SP, Diwakar Misra is set to take over as the new principal secretary of the council. A move is also on to appoint a DIG specifically for NC Hills for operational purposes. |
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