Assam violence: Bodos should reject a blood stained 'freedom'

Terrible memories of Assam’s bloody summer of 2012 suddenly came alive again on Tuesday evening when militants of the dreaded National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) - IK Sonbijit group - targeted innocent Adivasis living in five places in the districts of Kokrajhar and Sonitpur. Although the massacres were carried out between 4 pm and 5.30 pm, sketchy details of the bloodbath started emerging only around 8 pm as all the affected areas are located in remote regions with pathetic communication facilities. According to the latest details available, 68 people have succumbed to the attacks on Tuesday, including women, children and infants. The worst affected was Sonajuli village under Biswanath Chariali sub-division of Sonitpur district, where most of the victims were found. Another area that was the target of the militants was Batasipur in Dhekiajuli sub-division of the same district. In Kokrajhar, the villages of Serfungoorie, Lungsoong Forest Area and Ultapani were affected. [caption id=“attachment_2014697” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  An ablazed village house during attacks by National Democratic Front of Bodoland militants, in Phulbari on Wednesday. PTI[/caption] The strategy of violence adopted by the NDFB(S) against the Adivasis has confounded many as there was no immediate provocation for it. “Before the attacks yesterday, NDFB(S) cadres would come and tell us to leave the area claiming it to be there own. But they never threatened this kind of an act before,” one of the villagers, who somehow saved his life told the media on Tuesday. The attack has also left many Bodo organisations fuming. “It is a senseless act of violence. This is a hopeless situation. It bewilders me as to why NDFB(S) is killing innocent people. Their fight is with the government and they should fight with the army and the police. Bodos do not need their freedom by walking over the blood-stained ground of innocents. We don’t want such a freedom. The NDFB(S) fired their bullets on Adivasis but it has actually struck the Bodos,” All Bodo Students’ Union president Pramod Boro told Firstpost from Kokrajhar. The Bodo organisation is also taking an active part in preventing a fratricidal reaction. “We are protesting along with the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam against this mindless killing,” Boro said. After such massive unprovoked and ethnicity-based targeted multiple attacks, the retaliatory attacks were nothing but natural. Even the community leaders were struggling to contain rising tempers. “We completely condemn this violence by NDFB(S). We are trying hard to control the rising emotions of the people but it is very difficult. It is hard to explain to people and reason with them now. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi should resign. We have burnt effigies of the chief minister and other leaders. We have also called for an Assam shutdown on 26 December,” said Assam Tea Tribes Student Association general secretary Ashok Orang. There is a fear that the mindless act of violence committed by the NDFB(S) faction might result in the revival of Adivasi militancy. The Adivasi Cobra Militant Force, which had reared its head in the last decade but is under a ceasefire pact with the Centre, has been maintaining peace so far. In 2012, the Bodos had major clashes with minority Muslims resulting in the deaths of hundreds and injuries to many. Although these clashes were seen as ethnic, the Bodos believe that illegal citizens from Bangaladesh have encroached upon their lands. Thousands of people who were affected in the 2012 ethnic riots in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts are still in badly-managed relief camps. Neither is there a concrete plan to rehabilitate them nor there is any political will to solve the problem once and for all. “The security forces have always remained insufficient in these areas. There is not a proper police set up in these areas despite repeated violence. During 2001-14, the Tarun Gogoi government has failed to provide security to the people of Assam despite repeated assurances. Everyday innocents are harassed by the cops. The government has simply failed to send out a positive signal to the people,” Asom Gana Parishad leader and Sootea MLA Padma Hazarika told reporters. “The chief minister is busy protecting his own chair in the face of dissidence. There is large scale corruption going on in the name of border development for years. The chief minister has no time to look at that. Can you believe people are fleeing their homes with trunks and boxes on their heads. The injured had to be carried for kilometres as no ambulances were available,” Hazarika alleged. The Bodo areas have always remained strife-torn for one reason or the other. The approach has always been reactionary from the government side and it has been unable to enforce peace. “I totally condemn this violence by NDFB(S). The government must act and it must stop violence both by NDFB (S) and prevent counter-violence by Adivasis at any cost. I have already spoken to Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju,” Kokrajhar MP Naba Sarania told Firstpost from IGI Airport enroute to Guwahati after attending the Lok Sabha session. The problem is everyone is keen on peace but not for a solution.