Assam rights panel urged to ask Govt. to seize illegal weapons

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,

New Delhi: The Assam Human Rights Commission was on Wednesday approached against the failure of both state and central governments and BTAD administration (Bodo Territorial Area District) in providing security to the life and property of the people in the BTAD and surrounding areas.


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The commission was urged to ask the state government to seize illegal weapons from the surrendered militants in the area. Forum for Rehabilitation of Displaced Persons, Assam (FRDP) on 8th August filed the complaint

Though government is repeatedly giving assurance for security but it seems it is not sufficient as four persons have lost their life on August 7, 2012. The resignation of SDPO, Narayan Das revealed the Government’s true face as he cried for additional forces from the government to control the violence. Had the State Govt. and BTAD administration supported him, many lives and properties could have been saved, he added.

Talking to TCN over phone from Guwahati, Nashirul Z. Ahmed, president, FRDP, said the situation in the area is very grim. The state government has done little to curb violence. “Armed surrendered militants are roaming free as do armed militias in Afghanistan. There is no law and order. The government has not seized weapons,” said Ahmed.

On one hand the state government is doing little to check on violence in the affected areas, on the other it is not providing proper relief to victims in relief camps.

“Till today the government and the BTAD administration miserably failed to curb the violence in the disturbed areas. More than 80 people have lost their lives and over hundred people are still traceless. Over one lakh people are suffering from several diseases among the 4 (four) lakh people living in over 300 relief camps and 17 people died in the camps,” said Ahmed.

“The state Congress government is silently doing a Gujarat 2002 in Assam,” he said.

FRDP has requested the Assam Human Rights Commission to:

— Enquire into the matter of negligence by The Superintendent of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Kokrajhar District during the early phase of the violence.

— Direct the State Govt. to seize the illegal weapons from the surrendered militants and for a comprehensive enquiry in to the matter.

— Direct the State Govt. and administration of BTAD area to provide equal rights to all people without any discrimination on the basis of race, language and religion.

— Direct the State Govt. to rehabilitate the displaced persons to their respective places with proper security arrangements including enhanced monetary assistance in the matter of damaged houses as Rs 30,000 are inadequate for building a house.

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