Assam: NDFB wants to 'talk peace' with govt

With is top leader Ranjan Daimary holed up in jail after his arrest in Bangladesh last year, the anti-talks faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland is sending out feelers about its willingness to hold dialogue with the government and restore a peaceful atmosphere in the state.

Representatives of civil society organisation called Bodo National Convention who have met Daimary in jail on Wednesday, informed the media that the NDFB leader has told the BNC delegation that his outfit is ready for political dialogue with the government.

The BNC delegation also urged Daimary to extend the unilateral ceasefire that had been declared by the outfit until June 30 and the NDFB leader assured the delegation to take a final decision on extension of the unilateral ceasefire to create a favourable atmosphere.

The NDFB's unilateral ceasefire was, however, not responded to by the government forces which are continuing with their operations against the outfit.

The outfit too has been carrying on with activities such as extortions and reportedly has set up camps inside the thick jungles of Arunachal Pradesh, that borders north Assam.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had claimed earlier that he was receiving feelers from the NDFB (anti-talks) faction for dialogue, but said nothing concrete had happened.

The BNC delegation was entrusted to play the role of facilitators to bring the NFDB faction to their dialogue in their meeting with the chief minister on July 9.

BNC representatives told mediapersons that it was going to move New Delhi soon about the ceasefire with the NDFB faction.

Daimary was named the prime accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation on the October 30, 2008 serial blasts that rocked four districts in Assam, including three busy locations in Guwahati.

The blasts claimed over 90 lives, and injured over 400. The militant leader allegedly masterminded the serial blasts from his Bangladesh hideout.