Since 1990, over 2200 people have been killed by Bodo militants
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati/Sonitpur: Helena Kisku is one of the displaced taking shelter at the Xamukjuli Church in Sonitpur district. It is Christmas time. But rather than celebrations, the 35-year-old mother with young children is occupied with graver concerns.
“We are here (taking shelter) because our houses were burnt. There is no Christmas joy for us. It is a situation, where we are worried for our very survival,” Kisku said.
(Courtesy: HT)
Unfortunately, she is not alone. Hundreds of people in the state are spending homeless nights in cold weather with equally fearful moments at various shelter places on Christmas day.
Year 2014 could have come to an end with the usual festive fervor with Christmas but the militants loyal to the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) did not want it to be. Rather, they preferred to give tears of pain and fear as Christmas gift to thousands in Assam.
This December, so far, the NDFB (S) militants have killed over 76 innocent villagers belonging to Adivasi community in several districts of the state. Besides Sonitpur, the other districts are under Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD). Moreover, in BTAD, altogether 110 extortion cases were recorded besides 29 abductions in 2014.
The NDFB (S) militants have triggered several killings throughout the year 2014. In January 28 this year, Additional Superintendent of Police of Sonitpur district Gulzar Hussain was killed by NDFB militants. In May, 46 people, including 22 children, were gunned down in Baksa and Kokrajhar districts. Then, in July, four traders were abducted and killed in Baksa district.
In one of the horrific incidents, the militants of NDFB (S) gunned down Priya Basumatary, a class IX student in broad day light in front of camera in Chirang district.
Records available with the Assam’s Home department reveal following about the BTAD horror:
In 1993 – 61 killed (Muslims-59, Bodo-2)
In 1994 – 113 killed (Muslims 99, Bodo-11, Bengali Hindu-3)
In 1996 – 227 killed (Adivasi 201, Bodo-24, Nepali/Rajbongshi 2)
In 1998 – 179 killed (Adivasi 140, Rabha 4, Bodo- 35)
In 2008 – 92 killed (Muslim 77, Bodo 7, Others 8)
In 2012 – 114 killed (Muslim 81, Bodo 22, others 11)
In 2014 (May) – 49 killed (Muslim 49)
In 2014 (December) – 76 (Adivasi, Bodo)
Since 1990, altogether 2,289 people have been killed by the three factions of NDFB and the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT).
Several organizations and civic bodies have expressed their concern at the ongoing situation of Assam and BTAD.
“The inhuman acts are going on in the BTAD. We want to ask why the illegal arms are not seized yet? When the rule of law is going to be established? I also want to ask so far how many terrorists have been punished for the Nellie Massacre or other killings in BTAD? There are many questions, for which the government has no answer,” said Hafiz Ahmed, president of Chor Chapori Sahitya Parishad (CCSP), a literary body of the state.
The Bodo organizations have also condemned NDFB (S). Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) said that the militants led by Songbijit have brought bad name for the entire community.
“This is the worst thing anybody can do. By taking the name of Bodo community, they have brought bad name for the community in front of the world. The Bodo people will never forgive Songbijit and his militants. We urge the central government to finish these militants,” Kamala Kanta Mushahary, BSS president said.
All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) also condemned the militants as Songbijit is the enemy of humanity.