Delhi mulls operation

Delhi mulls operation

NISHIT DHOLABHAI

Kokrajhar/Guwahati, April 9: The Centre is toying with the idea of a major offensive in the NDFB (Ranjan Daimary) strongholds bordering Bhutan where at least 10 paramilitary personnel have been killed in the last 20 days. The hitch, apparently, is in the unwillingness on the part of Dispur and popular politicians in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) to go ahead with anything major, sources said. The last time a big operation was undertaken, it had only led to mass killings by the NDFB faction, which the Assam government could ill-afford in the middle of Assembly elections. Thus, while security forces killed two NDFB cadres in Sonitpur on Thursday morning, in the jungles of Ultapani, where NDFB commander Bidai rules the roost and where security forces suffered losses, there was little action. Attacks by the Daimary faction in the Bodo areas in the past month have sent alarm bells ringing not only in the paramilitary forces but also in the Union ministry of home affairs. The group has also attacked Bhutan police personnel in the past few months, making it embarrassing for the Centre. There is, however, apprehension among those in power at local level. As the election season raged on in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) areas, the Y.S. Dadwal-led Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) lost two personnel to NDFB’s bullets at Ultapani near the Bhutan border on Monday. On March 14, the BSF lost eight personnel in the same area. Unlike the army, the BSF is said not to have followed the standard operating procedures and travelled in a single truck, thus falling prey to the ambush in Ultapani. Taking advantage of these weaknesses of the paramilitary forces are NDFB militants like Bidai. The 30-year-old commander of the outfit in Ultapani-Bhutan area is a Daimary loyalist and takes orders from John Ingti alias Songbijit, who is still at large. B. Sudem, the self-styled army chief of the pro-talks faction of the NDFB who lives in Sephalguri designated camp with 530 cadres, said the Daimary faction had been active in Ultapani for a while now. Though the faction’s activities did not touch his group, his cadres remained alert. “We do not agree with them,” he said, a huge blow-up of Bodo girls dancing Dahal Thungri at the Republic Day parade this year adorning his office in the camp, half of which was recently destroyed in a storm. “We do not know about their policies. We are only waiting for the Centre to take a decision to end the six-year wait and give a decision on Bodoland,” he said. There is, however, little solace coming on this front from New Delhi. The inertia cannot be denied. While action against the Daimary group has been withheld, the pro-talks faction of the NDFB, which celebrated India’s cricket World Cup victory in their camp, is left waiting for a solution for the past six years. Sources said a big operation should be planned against the Daimary faction, especially after the SSB losses but the state government insists that nothing should be done. In the meantime, Daimary loyalists rule the roost.