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Militants in Assam under pressure to pack their guns

Insurgent groups operating in Assam, are under pressure from the people to give up their violent ways. These groups include the United Liberation Front of Asom, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland and the Bodoland Liberation Front.

Rural groups, literary organisations and intellectuals had already taken the initiative to convince members of these groups that violence has hampered development in Assam for over a decade. The people are apparently united against extremism and have pledged not to give shelter and 'taxes' to militants.

At a public meeting held in Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta's Barahampur constituency, which is also the stronghold of the ULFA, villagers decided not to give shelter to ULFA activists. People in Nalbari and Barpeta districts, where the NDFB and BLT are active, were also holding public meeting to stop payment of money to militants and to resist the militants.

Chandra Prasad of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha announced at an annual session that the state's tradition never favoured violence. He asked the insurgent outfits to help improve the condition of the strife-torn state.

"We must try to attain greatness by confronting the problem and injustice facing us in a non-violent and democratic manner," he said. He also urged litterateurs to restore the age-old amity among people through their work.

"We must try to create an environment of creativity by our deeds," he said. BSS President Bineswar Brahma urged both the state and the union governments, political parties, struggling organisations and insurgent groups to settle the Bodo problem through negotiation.

Meanwhile, the Manab Adhikar Sangram Samittee, a non-government human rights organisation has, for the first time, criticised the ULFA for killing and harassing people.

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