KOKRAJHAR,NOV 18: The ex-National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) welfare association has sought granting of general amnesty to all the leaders/members/cadres who are still languishing in jail even after the BTR Peace Accord signed on 27th January (2020).
On Monday, a six member delegation team of ex-NDFB Welfare Association met AK Mishra, the Adviser of North East Division, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in New Delhi, and sought granting of general amnesty to all the leaders/members/cadres who are still languishing in jail even after the Bodo Peace Accord.
The delegation team was led by Rujugra Mwchahary, president and Dilranjan Narzary, general secretary of the association, and submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah through the AK Mishra, the Adviser to the north east division, MHA that led discussion on an issue related to former NDFB are being discussed in the Meeting wherein an appeal is made to the Union Home Minister of India to grant “ General Amnesty” to all the leaders/ members/ cadres who are still languishing in Jail even after the peace accord.
According to memorandum, the BTR Peace Acord signed on 271h January, 2020, between the Government of India, Government of Asam, NDFB, ABSU, and UBPO embraced a ray of hope and optimism towards aiming lasting peace in the Bodoland region. However,the association has expressed they concerned that Ranjan Daimari, the founding President of the erstwhile National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) a party to the signatory of the Bodo Peace Accord, along with some leaders are still languishing in the Guwahati Central Jail.
The Clause 9.4 of the Accord states that the Government of Assam will dismiss all criminal cases against NDFB members for non-heinous offenses, but
many cases, classified as non-heinous, remain un-dismissed till date. Meanwhile cases involving into heinous crimes will be evaluated on an individual basis for consideration according to the current policy may also be taken into sympathetically consideration to as ‘General Amnesty’ on the meaning of the Peace Accord.
The Verdict of hte Guwahati Hgih Court, an appeal (Criminal Appeal No. 1706/2023) is re-challenge in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The consideration for Interim bail is likely to be on scheduled 20th November, 2024. The prolonged detention of Ranjan Daimari and some others despite of signing the Peace Accord has caused great dismay in the Bodo Community.
” Therefore, we benignly request the Government of India to consider the interim bail ot those languishing in jail for the greater interest of peace and harmony ni the region”.
- Clause 10.2 of the peace accord provides recruitment of Bodo youths in the Indian Army, Paramilitary Forces, and state police forces to increase their representation. However, larger portion of the ex- NDFB members are not
ex-NDFB.The association has urged the union home minister to conduct a ‘Special Recruitment Drive’ in the Indian Forces for recruiting the ex- NDFB members and kith and kins of the ex- NDFB and martyrs family as suitable ni the Government jobs. - As per Clause 9.2 of the BTR Accord, the Government of India and the Government of Assam commited to rehabilitating the cadres in consultation with the NDFB factions, which includes a lump sum ex-gratia payment, economic activity funding through existing government schemes ni areas such as fisheries, piggery, organic farming, and poultry farming, trade/vocational training based on local resources, and recruitment for suitable government positions, as eligible”, the memorandum read.
The association stated that former NDFB members who are still imprisoned in various jails across India and neighboring countries, sought an intervention of Home Minister,Shah in transferring their legal proceedings to the Hon’ble Courts of Assam for expediting trials and acquittals.
The association also urged the Home Minister to take initiative on implementing the clauses of BTR peace accord with prompt action.
