GUWAHATI, August 17: Even as the state government and Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) continue to shift the responsibility about providing annual grant to Bodo Sahitya Sabha, the literary body has found the going very tough. "It is a miracle that Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) has survived so long sans the patronage from the authorities concerned," says the President of the literary organisation, Bineswar Brahma. "Lack of sincerity on part of the Government or the BAC has given rise to dissension among the common Bodo people," he said while informing that for the last couple of years the annual grant of Rs one lakh was not released to the literary body. The state government maintains that the money is to be routed through the BAC while the latter cites paucity of fund as the reason for non-release of fund. The fund crisis has forced the Bodo literary body to shelve several projects including one on development of children literature. The Sahitya Sabha President, Brahma informed that the former Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the BAC, Kanakeswar Basumatary had in fact, put condition for release of the fund. The former CEM told the literary body to adopt Roman script instead of Devnagiri script for Bodo language if it wanted fund from the BAC. But the BSS chose not to bow to the pressure from the CEM and continued to stick to Devnagiri script. "Even the British admit that Indian alphabets are more scientific than Roman alphabets," the BSS President said. Till a few years back the Government's annual grant for Bodo Sahitya Sabha was only Rs. 3,000 which was later revised to Rs 20,000 per year. Now the annual grant amounts to Rs one lakh per year which is included in the state budget, said the BSS president. In the absence of regular flow of fund from the authorities concerned, the BSS is surviving on contribution from its 22 district committees including one in West Bengal. A district committee of the BSS functions within the limit of respective revenue sub-division in the state. However, the spirit in the BSS is still high despite the fund crisis. It is reflected in the ambitious project it has taken up on translation works which would not have been possible without a donation of Rs five lakh from the Bongaigaon Refinery and Petro-Chemicals Limited (BRPL). The BSS President informed that the project would focus on translating outstanding literary works in English, Hindi and Assamese to Bodo language to enrich the Bodo literature. Similarly, Bodo literary works will also be translated to these languages. A selection committee has been constituted by the BSS for choosing literary works to be translated into Bodo language and vice versa. The committee is already on the job. Transcription project: The Ministry of Human Resources Development has entrusted the Bodo Sahitya Sabha with the responsibility of a project to determine scientific and technical terminology for Bodo language. The project will cover total 40 subjects barring law and computer science. The BSS President informed that the work on the project would be carried out in phased manner. The first phase will begin on August 19 at Kokrajhar where experts from the Union Ministry will be present. The phase will continue for seven days. Meanwhile, the BSS has constituted eleven sub-committees of experts for the transcription project which is sponsored by the HRD ministry. The manuscript will be printed by the Ministry. The BSS President informed that the literary body has set a deadline to complete the project by 2002, the golden jubilee year of the Sahitya Sabha. After the transcription project is completed, the Ministry will entrust the NCERT and SCERT to bring out textbooks on different subjects in Bodo language. "After successful culmination of the transcription project Bodo language will be richer by several thousand words," Brahma said. It may be mentioned that in the absence of uniform terminology in different subjects, students pursuing higher study in Bodo language are now facing serious problems. (Bijay Sankar Bora; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 18, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 19: In a shocking incident, the president of Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Bineswar Brahma, was shot dead by suspected National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants at his Bhetapara residence in the city around 8.30 this evening. Police sources informed that four NDFB militants came to Brahma's residence and shot him dead after an altercation. The militants fired from AK-47 assault rifles. He was immediately rushed to Down Town Hospital where he was declared brought dead. His body was kept in the morgue of the hospital and will be sent for post-mortem tomorrow. It is learnt that there was an intelligence report that a four-member group of NDFB militants had entered the city with a specific mission. However, the intelligence tip-off was not clear about the 'specific mission' of the ultras. The slain Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) president, who was also Joint Manager, Movement and Commercial of Food Corporation of India (FCI), had played a major role in the peace initiative involving the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) and the Government of India. His body bore 14 bullet marks. He was wearing only a 'dhoti' when the militants, who even had tea at his residence, fired upon him from close range. It may be mentioned that the NDFB was strongly opposed to Brahma's idea of adopting Devanagiri script for Bodo language which was later endorsed by Bodo Sahitya Sabha also. The NDFB was pressuring the Sahitya Sabha to adopt Roman script for Bodo language. Sources here informed that the dastardly killing of Brahma, who was instrumental in keeping the BSS flag flying against all odds, was a reflection of the deep sense of frustration of NDFB was suffering from after it had been sidelined in the Bodo peace process. Born in Bhatarmari village near Kokrajhar town, Brahma graduated from the Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. He was also the general secretary of the Students' Union of the university. He was associated with the activities of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha for a long time. He was first elected as the president of the Sabha in 1996 and was re-elected to the same post for his second three-year term last year. Meanwhile, the president of All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) UG Brahma, who was very close with the Sabha president, said that those involved in the killing obviously do not want unity among the Bodos and they are out to disrupt the unity process. The ABSU president said that the Sabha president played a major role in uniting all Bodo parties and organisations and in the peace process. He played a major role to bring an end to the fratricidal killings among different Bodo groups. The ABSU president expressed apprehension that the situation in the Bodo-dominated areas might deteriorate after the killing of the Sabha president. The ABSU president further said that Brahma gave a new dimension to the Bodo Sahitya Sabha and "those who killed him made a very big mistake." The Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has also strongly condemned the killing of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha president. Brahma left behind his wife, one son and one daughter. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 20, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 20: Cross sections of people today condemned the brutal killing of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) president Bineswar Brahma, while the Sabha has given a call for a 12-hour Assam bandh from 5 am of August 22 in protest against the killing. The BSS president was shot dead in his Bhetapara residence by suspected National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants at around 8.30 pm yesterday. The body of Brahma was taken to the office of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha where the members paid their last respects. The Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta also visited the residence of Brahma to pay his last respects. The body was later taken to his native village Bhatarmari village near Kokrajhar town where the cremation will take place tomorrow morning. Police sources said that several suspected hideouts of the NDFB militants were raided in the city since last night and number of persons have been picked up for questioning. However, till the time of filing of this report, no one has been arrested. Though the motive behind the killing is yet to be ascertained, police suspect that Brahma was killed because he had advocated use of Devanagiri script for Bodo language while, the NDFB has been demanding that Roman script should be used. Moreover, Brahma played a major part in the peace process and was a strong advocate of the unity among all the Bodo political parties and organisations. Militant outfit Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) today said that the NDFB is out to create confusion in the minds of the people to disturb the ongoing peace talks between the Government of India and the BLT. In a release here today, the publicity secretary of the BLT, Mainao Daimary strongly condemned the killing of Brahma and said, " Brahma was a man of principle who worked wholeheartedly for the development of Bodo language and literature. He said that he did not compromise on this issue of adopting Devnagiri script for Bodo language even after he was threatened by the NDFB, as the outfit wanted to use Roman script for Bodo language against the wishes of the people. This must be the reason why Brahma was killed, Daimary said. The BLT publicity secretary asserted that the NDFB would not be able to achieve its goal by killing Brahma and it is now clear that the NDFB has taken up arms to destroy the Bodo society. The president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, Chandra Prasad Saikia has strongly condemned the killing of Brahma and expressed his sympathies to the members of the bereaved family. He said, "it is hard to imagine that a dedicated worker of literature and culture can be killed." He further said that Brahma tried to develop the language and literature of all the ethnic groups of the state," he said. The Bodo Sahitya Sabha has condemned the killing and demanded an enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the incident. The state unit of the CPI condemned the incident and demanded immediate steps to nab the culprits involved in the killing. The state unit of the CPM, while condemning the killing, said that it was a loss to the state as Brahma worked for unity among all sections of the people. A delegation of the AASU today visited the residence of Brahma and placed a flag of the AASU on the body to pay their respect to the departed should. Different other organisations have also condemned the killing. Our Kokrajhar Correspondent adds: The killing of Brahma sent shock waves through the entire Kokrajhar district and all shops, business establishments etc. remained closed as a mark of respect to the departed soul. Different organisations of the district including All Bodo Students Union, Bengali Sahitya Sanmilani, All Bodo Women's Welfare Federation and others have condemned the incident. The ABSU has also appealed to all sections of the people to maintain peace. The BLT today held an emergency executive meeting to condole the death of Brahma. Meanwhile, the funeral procession will be taken out at 8 am tomorrow. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 21, 2000)

KOKRAJHAR, August 21: The National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) had been planning to eliminate the Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Bineswar Brahma for a long time, alleged the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) publicity secretary Mainao Daimary. Daimary said that the NDFB chairman Ranjan Daimary had threatened to kill Brahma if he failed to accept Roman script for Bodo language in a meeting held in Shillong on May 30 last year. The BLT leader assured that the BLT would continue to respect the ceasefire agreement and "we have instructed our cadres not to retaliate". Meanwhile, Guwahati police grilled the Peoples' Democratic Front (PDF) general secretary Gangadhar Ramchiary in connection with the killing of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Bineswar Brahma. It may be mentioned here that Ramchiary condemned the killing of Brahma this evening. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 22, 2000)

KOKRAJHAR, August 21: The mortal remains of Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Bineswar Brahma was laid to rest on the bank of Chandmari river this evening in presence of a large crowd. Earlier, his body was taken to Gossaigaon, Serfunguri, Katchugaon and various other places where people offered floral tributes to the great leader. Cooperation Minister Nurul Hussain, Higher Education Minister Thaneswar Boro today visited his house and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family. Assam Governor Lt Gen (retd) SK Sinha in his condolence message expressed shock at the killing of Brahma. Meanwhile, the Bodo Sahitya Sabha has called for a 12-hour Assam bandh tomorrow in protest against the gruesome killing of Brahma. Several organisations have condemned the brutal killing of Brahma, who was gunned down by suspected NDFB militants at Bhetapara in the city on Saturday last. In a statement here today, All Assam Tribal Sangha joint secretary Kalyan Sonowal said that Brahma's untimely death was a great loss for the Boro community. Sonowal further said that Brahma was not only a noted litterateur but also a champion of poor people. The Tribal Sangha also urged the state government to find out the culprits involved in the killing. The MIL department of Gauhati University also mourned the death of Brahma and conveyed sympathy to his bereaved family. In a press release, the Head of the MIL department G Goswami said that it was an irreparable loss in the field of literature. Earlier, Indian Motion Picture Association expressed shock at the killing of Brahma. A meeting was held here today under the presidentship of DK Deka where the members observed one-minute silence. The teachers unit of the Kokrajhar Science College also condemned the killing of Brahma. In a statement the principal said "violence never solves any problem." Food Corporation of India executive staff union, Food Corporation of India Employees Union and Asom Gana Parishad also mourned the death of Bineswar Brahma. Former MP Charan Narzary mourned the death of Brahma. MP SK Bwismuthiary appealed to the Government of Assam to take all necessary steps and actions to identify the culprits and to nab them and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family. MLA Pramila Rani Brahma also mourned the death of Brahma as an irreparable loss to the state and the Bodo Society. Kokrajhar District Congress secretary Ramnath Narzary also mourned the death of Brahma. All India Banga Sahitya Sabha vice president PK Roy also described Brahma's death as a 'great loss'. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 22, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 21: Close on heels of the killing of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Bineswar Brahma, Bijni Assembly constituency legislator Mohini Basumatary was shot dead at his residence this afternoon. Police said that a group of four armed miscreants entered the residence of Basumatary at Borlechigaon village, about four km from Bijni town in Bongaigaon district around 3.30 pm and shot him dead. The miscreants came in a green Maruti van. It is suspected that the van originally belonged to Basumatary and this aspect is now being probed. The identity of the militant outfit involved in the killing is yet to be ascertained. Sources said that as Basumatary, a member of the People's Democratic Front (PDF) was actively involved in the unification move of the Bodo political parties and organisations, he might be targeted by the militants belonging to the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB). However, Basumatary, at one point of time had close links with some NDFB activists and that is why the possibility of the involvement of the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) in the killing in retaliation to the killing of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha president cannot be ruled out. It may be mentioned here that the state government yesterday alerted all the district police forces against the possibility of attacks on the leaders of the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) and the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) by the NDFB. Police sources said that as per information available with the security forces, the NDFB does not want the ABSU or the BLT to take the credit for any solution to the vexed Bodo problem. The ongoing peace talks and the overwhelming popular support to the peace process forced the NDFB to believe that they would be isolated from the masses. The NDFB leaders were also opposed to the move to unite the Bodo political parties and organisations, sources said. Mohini Basumatary was elected to the state Assembly in 1997. He was born on March 1, 1965. Meanwhile, Assam Speaker Ganesh Kutum has condemned the killing of Basumatary and expressed his sympathies to the members of the bereaved family, Kutum called upon all sections of people of the state to maintain peace. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Tarun Gogoi, leader of the opposition in the state Assembly Sylvius Condpan and the chief whip of the Congress legislature party Sarat Borkotoky have also condemned the killing of Basumatary. Meanwhile, PDF general secretary Gangadhar Ramchiary has strongly condemned the killing of Basumatary and the Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Bineswar Brahma. Ramchiary said that such killings would affect the unity move of all the Bodo political parties and organisations. Such killings would not solve any problem but would only complicate matters, he said. He further appealed to all sections of people to maintain peace. Our Bijni Correspondent adds: The Maruti van which was used by the assailants today belonged to Mohini Basumatary himself. The vehicle was forcibly taken away by a group of youths yesterday. The vehicle was later found abandoned about one km away from the residence of Basumatary. Several organisations including the Bijni units of the PDF, ABSU, BPAC, All Bodo Women's Welfare Federation, AASU, AJYCP, Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Tribal Sangha and others have condemned the killing. The Bongaigaon Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, MLA Bhupen Ray and others rushed to the residence of Basumatary immediately after the incident. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 22, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 22: The 12-hour Assam bandh called by Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) to protest the killing of its president Bineswar Brahma on Saturday night by suspected NDFB ultras at his Bhetapara residence here disrupted normal life in the state, especially in the Bodo-dominated areas. Meanwhile, in a rare show of courage in this insurgency-hit state, residents of Beltola-Bhetapara area took out a silent procession protesting killing of Bineswar Brahma in the morning today. Several hundreds of people belonging to all communities participated in the procession. Educational and financial institutions in the state including the capital city remained closed during the bandh period today while attendance in government offices was very thin. Private vehicles and public transport services remained off the road during the bandh period. The city bus service here was skeletal throughout the day. However, railway services were not affected. Most of the shops and other business establishments remained closed in the city during the bandh hours. There was no report of any untoward incident from any part of the state during the bandh hours. Life in Kokrajhar, the home district of the slain BSS President was totally paralysed due to the bandh. The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and its Tribal Cell in two separate statements came down heavily on the present state government for failing to protect lives of even prominent personalities like Bineswar Brahma and Mohini Basumatary, the slain MLA from Bijni, against the marauding militants. The APCC stated that the latest spurt in violence and killings in the state once again proved the 'hollowness' of the government's claim of bringing the law and order situation under control. The Assam Tribune Employees Union in an emergent general meeting today expressed concern over recent incidents of killing and violence in the state and condemned the killing of Bineswar Brahma and Mohini Basumatary. The All Guwahati Students Union (AGSU) has decided to hoist black flag at several places in the city on August 24 next in protest against all sorts of killings occurring in the state of late. In a press statement the AGSU also criticised the state government for failing to provide security to lives and property of the people in the state. Our correspondents add: The bandh was total in Sonitpur district, Dhekiajuli, Rangapara, Biswanath Chariali and Gohpur subdivisions; at Tangla and its neighbouring areas-Kamargaon, Panery Bhergaon and Dimakuchi. A weekly market at Tangla was totally paralysed. The bandh was also total in Goreswar, and in Nalbari district. No untoward incident has been reported from any part of the state. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 22: The state government has decided to institute magisterial probe into the killing of Bodo Sahitya Sabha president, Bineswar Brahma and the Bijni MLA, Mohini Basumatary, according to an official release. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting of civil and police officials convened by the Chief Minister at Janata Bhavan this afternoon. Meanwhile, the police was yet to ascertain the identity of the group of militants involved in the killing of Bijni MLA, Mohini Basumatary at his Barlechigaon residence yesterday. The four assailants came to the slain legislator's house in a green Maruti van which belongs to the MLA. It is learnt that on Sunday last two youths including a former Bodo Liberation Tiger militant took the vehicle from the MLA saying that they needed the vehicle to undertake a journey to Kokrajhar. However, police is not yet sure whether the two youths who took the vehicle on Sunday, were among the assailants or not. They were yet to be picked up for interrogation by the police. In the meantime following the killing of Mohini Basumatary who was a member of People's Democratic Front (PDF), security of all other Bodo legislators in the state has been beefed up fearing militants' attacks on them. It was learnt that immediately after yesterday's killing of Bijni MLA, the Sidli MLA, Andrias Hajoary who is also a member of PDF was escort by police to Kokrajhar circuit house from his Bengtol residence from where he was today rushed to security of his residential quarter in capital complex here. The Bongaigaon District unit of Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) in a statement said killings of personalities like Bineswar Brahma and Mohini Basumatary had exposed the 'dubious design' of NDFB to 'destroy the Bodo society.' The BLT said in the wake of he mindless killings by the NDFB fear psychosis had gripped Bodo intellectuals to work for the cause of Bodo society as a whole. "Killing of Bineswar Brahma is an irreparable loss to the Bodo community," the BLT unit stated while calling upon the people to put up a brave front against a 'destructive' force like the NDFB. Meanwhile, a meeting held under the presidentship of Assam Assembly Speaker, Ganesh Kutum condoled the death of Bijni MLA, Mohini Basumatary. The meeting held at the Assembly Secretariat today was attended by large number of MLAs and employees of the Assembly Secretariat. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 23: The state government has alerted the district police forces apprehending attacks against the leaders of the Bodo political parties and organisations by the militants following the killings of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Bineswar Brahma and legislator Mohini Basumatary. Police sources told this correspondent today that the NDFB, which suffered reverses in recent months was desperately trying to create a fear psychosis and dominate the Bodo people and that might be one of the reasons behind the brutal killing of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Bineswar Brahma. Sources said that the security forces managed to get vital information about the activities of the NDFB after the surrender of several leaders of the outfit. The NDFB does not want that other organisations like the ABSU or the BLT should take the credit for any success on solving the vexed Bodo problem. The overwhelming popular support to the ongoing peace talks between the BLT and the Government of India and the recent move to unite all the Bodo political parties and organisations also forced the NDFB leaders to believe that they would be isolated from the masses and as Brahma played a major role in the peace process and the unification move, he became a target for the NDFB. Moreover, the NDFB lost several cadres in recent months and as they have not been able to move freely, they are finding it difficult to collect money. It is apprehended that the NDFB might now try to attack the leaders of the ABSU to create fear psychosis in the minds of the people. Sources pointed out that there were reasons to believe that some of the actions of the NDFB were guided by outside forces as they killed several prominent Bodo personalities including Bineswar Brahma, former ABSU president Swmbla Basumatary, noted scholar Bihuram Boro and others, which in fact, affected the Bodo society as a whole. It is suspected that the NDFB has been demanding the use of the Roman script for Bodo language because of pressure from outside forces. According to records available with the security forces, NDFB, which was earlier called the Boro Security Force, has very good relations with the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) and several top leaders of the NSCN also visited the camps of the NDFB. As per the reports available, the Boro Security Force changed its name to NDFB at the advise of the NSCN(IM). During that time, the NSCN(IM) also helped the NDFB chairman Ranjan Daimary to set up a base in Bangkok. But in the later stages, the NDFB, along with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), became close with the Khaplang faction of the NSCN. Like the ULFA, the NDFB is also operating from the jungles of the neighbouring country Bhutan, where the outfit has at least 500 trained armed cadres. The NDFB chairman has bases in Bangkok, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Interestingly, the NDFB chairman and other top leaders of the outfit frequently visit the Meghalaya capital Shillong and according to reports available with the security forces, Ranjan Daimary visited Shillong last year and even called on a top political leader. The publicity secretary of the NDFB B Irakdao got married in a church in Shillong recently. Though the security forces do not have concrete evidence of the links between the NDFB and the Pakistani intelligence agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), police sources said that the outfit must be getting help from the Pakistani agency. Sources pointed out that the NDFB used ignition devices made in Pakistan to trigger off two blasts on trains near Rangiya last month, which proved that the outfit must be getting explosives from the Pakistani agency. Moreover, the NDFB is also maintaining bases in Bangladesh, which is possible only with help from foreign agencies. But till date, the security forces have no report of NDFB cadres going to Pakistan for training like the ULFA cadres, sources admitted. Security agencies also have records to prove that some human rights organisation are maintaining links with the top leaders of the NDFB, sources added. It may be mentioned here that the BLT and NDFB held several rounds of meetings last year even before the BLT entered into a ceasefire agreement with the Central Government. One such meeting was held in Shillong in the residence of a political leader on May 30 last year, which was attended by the top leaders of both the outfits including the NDFB chairman Ranjan Daimary. After the meetings, it was decided that both the outfits would desist from indulging in fratricidal clashes, police sources said. The BLT publicity secretary Mainao Daimary told newsmen in Kokrajhar after the killing of the Sahitya Sabha president that the NDFB had been planning to eliminate him for a long time. He said that in the meeting in Shillong on May 30 last, the NDFB chairman threatened to kill Brahma if he failed to accept Roman script for Bodo language. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 24, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 23: Authorities in Lower Assam districts have shifted all Bodo MLAs and senior leaders to safe houses following the assassination of two Bodo leaders within the past five days. These leaders have been kept in watertight circuit houses and government guest houses in view of the potential threat to the lives of Bodo legislators and other community leaders. According to reports reaching here today, Kokrajhar (East) MLA Pramila Rani Brahma and her Sidli counterpart Andrias Hajowary were shifted to the Kokrajhar circuit house yesterday while the Kokrajhar (West) MLA Hemendra N. Brahma was moved to the Bongaigaon circuit house. The district authorities have also restricted the movement of these and other legislators and community leaders under security cover, besides making it mandatory for them to provide details about their tour itinerary in advance. The Army has also been given instructions to stand by in all Lower Assam districts to help maintain law and order, if needed. The areas under Bodoland Autonomous Council have been witnessing violence following the murder of Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) president Bineswar Brahma here on Saturday. Brahma was believed to be killed by National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants who opposed his efforts to unify all warring factions of the Bodoland statehood movement. As a sequel to Brahma's killing, Bodo militants struck at Bijni in Lower Assam killing MLA Mohini Basumatary, an important member of the Peoples' Democratic Party, known to be the political front of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland. Meanwhile, the PDF has called an 11-hour Assam bandh tomorrow to protest Basumatary's killing. The Bodo Sahitya Sabha had also given a 12-hour bandh call yesterday, which passed off without any incident. (Correspondent; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; August 24, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 24: The Peoples' Democratic Front (PDF) sponsored eleven hour Assam bandh passed off peacefully at 4 pm today evoking lukewarm response in most parts of the state. The call for the bandh was given by the PDF in protest against the killing of legislator Mohini Basumatary by unidentified gunmen at his residence in Bijni in Bongaigaon district on August 21 last. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state during the bandh period. In Guwahati, the bandh evoked lukewarm response as most of the shops and business establishments remained open, while the offices and educational institutions functioned normally. The city buses and other modes of transport plied on the city roads. The city buses stayed off the road in the early part of the day but gradually the buses started plying as the day progressed. The train services were not affected because of the bandh, Railway sources said. Apparently, the people of Guwahati are fed up with repeated bandh calls as today's bandh was the fifth bandh in this month. Repeated bandh calls affected the shop owners, bus and autorickshaw operators badly and today they decided to defy the call. However, the bandh had some impact in the Bodo dominated areas of the state. But in the Upper Assam districts and in the Barak valley districts, there was no impact of the bandh. Our Bilasipara correspondent reports that the PDF sponsored bandh failed to evoke any response in the Bilasipara sub division of Dhubri district. Our Mangaldoi correspondent reports that the bandh had no impact in Mangaldoi as shops and business establishments, government offices and educational institutions functioned normally and all kinds of vehicles plied on the roads. However, the Mangaldoi-Tangla and Mangaldoi-Kharupetia public buses stayed off the roads. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 25, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 25: Militant outfit Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT), which is under a ceasefire agreement with the Central Government, is of the view that a congenial atmosphere is a must for a political solution to the vexed Bodo problem. Talking to The Assam Tribune here last evening, the publicity secretary of the BLT, Mainao Daimary expressed the view that only under a peaceful situation, the Bodo organisations and the government would be able to think seriously about the political issues and that is why a political solution to the Bodo issue would depend on the overall situation. He condemned the killing of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Bineswar Brahma and legislator Mohini Basumatary and strongly denied the involvement of the BLT in the incidents. He instructed all the cadres of the BLT not to indulge in any kind of unlawful activity that might disturb the peace process. The BLT has also appealed to the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) to abjure violence and come forward to the negotiation table. Daimary reminded the NDFB that no problem can be solved without dialogue and "if the NDFB is really serious about the development of Bodos, they should come forward for talks for a political solution to the problem." Talks with Govt: The BLT publicity secretary said that they were satisfied with the progress of talks with the Government. But at the same time, he said that the Government should expedite the process of talks to prevent the destructive elements from the disturbing the peace process by creating confusion and misunderstanding among the people. Giving a detailed account of the events leading to the ceasefire agreement, Daimary said, "I must confess that the BLT had indulged in unlawful activities in the past. But we always believe in the Constitution of India and we are of the view that the Bodo problem can be solved under the framework of the Constitution. We believe in coexistence, the very spirit of the Indian Parliamentary system." He pointed out that during the Kargil war, when every Indian citizen took part in the crisis directly or indirectly, the BLT unilaterally suspended its operations against the Indian security forces and that was the beginning of the events leading to the talks. He said that at that time, agents of the Union Home Ministry got in touch with the BLT and extended offer for talks and "we told them that if the Government is serious, we would respond positively." In the first round of talks with the Home Ministry officials on October 16 last year, the BLT put three conditions - the ban on the BLT should be lifted, as the BLT suspended operations, the Government should also reciprocate by suspending operations against the outfit and the persons arrested should be released. The ban on the BLT was lifted on January 10 this year and the ceasefire agreement for a period of six months came into effect from March 15. After the ceasefire, the BLT had four rounds of talks with the Union Home Ministry where the political issues were discussed. The chairman of the BLT also participated in the discussions. The main demands of the BLT include, creation of a separate state of Bodoland on the northern part of the river Brahmaputra, creation of an autonomous district council in the south bank of the river, inclusion of the Bodo Kacharis living in Karbi Anglong in the sixth schedule of the Constitution, inclusion of Bodo language in the eighth schedule of the Constitution, setting up of a Central University in the proposed Bodoland, setting up of Engineering and Medical colleges in the proposed Bodoland etc. Daimary pointed out that creation of an autonomous district is a state subject and the BLT would discuss the issue with the state government with an open mind in presence of Central representative. He also said that all tribals should get equal opportunity in the Rabha and Tiwa autonomous councils. He pointed out that both the state government and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council have already recommended the inclusion of Bodo Kacharis living in Karbi Anglong in the sixth schedule and the Government of India should concede to the demand immediately. Daimary said that they would have no objection if the Government decides to involve other Bodo organisations, who are demanding separate state, in the negotiation process. But at the same time, he said, "we believe that if a satisfactory solution comes out of the ongoing talks, no Bodo organisation would oppose that." He also said that all the Bodo political parties and organisations should come under a common platform. Commenting on the response that they received from the people after the ceasefire agreement, Daimary said that the people, who are suffering because of violence, desperately wanted peace and they got it after the ceasefire agreement. "Immediately after the ceasefire agreement, we held meetings in all corners of the proposed Bodoland and we got overwhelming response. In fact the response was much more than expectations." Talks with NDFB: Giving a detailed account of the events leading to the signing of an agreement with the NDFB to stop all fratricidal killings, the BLT publicity secretary said that in 1998, Bineswar Brahma organised a meeting of Bodo intellectuals in the Bodo Sahitya Sabha office and the meeting demanded the creation of a separate state. The meeting also expressed concern at the fratricidal killings and formed a Bodo National Peace and Coordination Committee. "Members of the coordination committee approached us, following which we declared a ceasefire against the NDFB on November 21, 1998. But on November 26, six of our supporters were killed in Darrang district. However, on November 29, the NDFB issued a statement welcoming the move to stop fratricidal killings. Gradually communication between the outfits was established and the first meeting between the leaders of the outfits was held on April 1, 1999," he said. He revealed that the next meeting was held in Shillong on May 30, 1999, in which the chairman of both the outfits also participated. In that meeting an agreement was signed under the spirit of forgive and forget to stop all fratricidal killings. A coordination committee with four members from each side was also formed to oversee the implementation of the agreement, he added. Daimary said that the BLT and NDFB leaders met thrice after that meeting and "we have worked hard to translate Shillong agreement into reality and even in the face of provocation, our cadres are abiding by the peace agreement." Daimary said that in the May 30 meeting, the NDFB chairman asserted that they would continue fighting for a sovereign Bodo country. The NDFB chairman also had an altercation with Bineswar Brahma and threatened that they would not hesitate to give capital punishment to him if the Bodo Sahitya Sabha failed to accept Roman script for Bodo language. He also threatened that if necessary, the NDFB would float a separate Bodo tunlai afat (literary organisation). (R Dutta Choudhury; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 26, 2000)

TEZPUR, August 24: The National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), a major outfit of the lower Assam districts operating especially in the Bodo Autonomous Council (BAC) areas has intensified its extortion drive among the non-Bodo families in various parts of Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar districts respectively. Despite stepped-up security arrangements, the outfits has served notices demanding huge amount of Bodoland tax and donations. Talking to The Assam Tribune, AK Chaharia, superintendent of police, Bongaigaon admitted that various outfit organisations operating in the district have sent chills down the spines of the common people and the trading community even as they are extorting huge amounts of money. He said security measures in the district have been tightened and rued the fact that people always give into the extremists extortion demand and then denied before the police of having made any such payment. According to sources, the Birsa Commando Force (BCF) an outfit of Adivasi people which began to operate in the region after 1996 ethnic riots to protect the Adivasi community from the ethnic clashes and to form a separate homeland for the Adivasis along with Adivasi Cobra militants has served notices to all communities irrespective of any profession and chalked out a plan to form a separate Adivasi land for the Santhals by force. In Kokrajhar district the area from Sankoch river to Panch river and Indo-Bhutan international border to southern railway line had been drawn out in their plan for a separate Adivasi land, the sources said. Chaharia, further said that the present strength of armed constables in the district is not sufficient to control the law-and-order situation and added that one more column of Army and paramilitary forces is required to bring peace in the district. Even the Manas National Park has not been spared by the outfit organisations, he said adding that the militants freely uses the National Park road to shift their camps to Bhutan. However, the superintendent of police claimed that despite the presence of all militant outfits in the district, Bongaigaon district in comparison to other adjacent districts like Kokrajhar etc is peaceful. Regarding the Koch-Rajbongshi outfits, the superintendent of police said in the North Salmara division of the district the outfit has a good hold and adds that the banned ULFA has been supporting and helping them in their training at the Bhutan camps. He further said the outfits is yet to gear up its activities in Bongaigaon district and added that the outfits have already started operating in Dhubri and North Bengal districts. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 26, 2000)