GUWAHATI, Jan 27 - The Accord signed today for solution of the Bodo political issue is the third such one signed by the Government since 1993 and for the first time, leaders of four factions of a militant group as well as the All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU) signed the same agreement.
The first agreement between the Assam Government and the All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU) was signed in 1993 in presence of the then Union Minister of State for Home Rajesh Pilot in 1993 to pave the way for the creation of the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC). The signing of the agreement also led to the surrender of the Bodo Volunteer Force, a militant outfit, in presence of Pilot.
However, soon the Bodo organizations started feeling that the accord did not fulfill their hopes and aspirations and a fresh movement for a separate state of Bodoland started. During that period, some areas of the State also witnessed large scale violence and in 2003, militant outfit (Bodo Liberation Tiger) signed an agreement with the State and Central Governments in presence of the then Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, which led to the formation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
The sixth schedule of the Constitution of India was also amended to pave the way for creation of the BTC. Though the leaders of the ABSU were also present at the accord signing ceremony, they did not sign the Accord.
The National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) was known to be one of the most violent militant outfits and it suffered heavily during the operations launched by Bhutan Army. Over the years, the outfit suffered four splits and today all the factions signed the same agreement.
The NDFB signed a cease fire agreement with the Government in 2005 to start process of talks, but interestingly, Ranjan Daimary, who was then the chairman of the outfit, stayed back in Bangladesh along with some of his close members of the outfit, while, the general secretary of the outfit, Govinda Basumatary was talking with the Government.
On October 30, 2008, Assam witnessed one of the worst ever terror attacks as more than 90 persons were killed in serial blasts including three in Guwahati city. Investigation of the blasts proved that Ranjan Daimary and his followers were involved in the blasts and the general body of the NDFB expelled them, which led to the first split. The faction which was taking to the Government was known as NDFB (P) and the faction led by Daimary was known as NDFB (R). In 2010, the Government of Bangladesh arrested Ranjan Daimary and handed him over to India. Though Daimary agreed to talk with the Government, one faction headed by IK Songbijit remained in Myanmar and was known as NDFB(S). The NDFB(S) also joined hands with the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) and other militant groups of the North East to form a common platform of the North East militants. The NSDB(S) chairmanship was later taken over by S Saoraigwra. Interestingly, even when the outfit was talking with the Government, there was a split in the ranks of the NDFB (P) and a senior leader Dhiren Boro with some of his supporters broke away which led to the fourth faction. Today all the faction signed the same agreement.
