GUWAHATI, Aug 1 � Availability of sophisticated weapons with a number of groups in the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) areas has become a matter of serious concern for the security forces. Meanwhile, though the situation in the BTAD areas improved considerably, tension still prevails in the area and police and security forces are kept on high alert.
Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that a number of groups have sophisticated weapons in the BTAD areas, but fortunately, both factions of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) did not indulge in the recent ethnic clashes. Sources said that the Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB, which declared a unilateral cease-fire, has abundance of weapons, but the outfit did not indulge in the recent clashes as the outfit is expressing its desire for talks with the Government of India and at least five rounds of informal talks have been held between Daimary and Centre�s interlocutor PC Haldar. The outfit was of the view that its involvement in the clashes may jeopardize the peace process and all members of the outfit kept quiet.
The NDFB (P), which is under cease-fire agreement with the Government, also has weapons, but the outfit also kept itself out of the clashes, sources added.
Sources expressed the view that though Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) was disbanded following the signing of the accord with the Central and State Governments in 2003, some members of the outfit have kept weapons and as all the former BLT cadres have not been rehabilitated, they are staying in camps. There have been instances of ex BLT cadres indulging in unlawful activities and following the recent riots, the security agencies have taken serious note of the fact and a watch is being maintained on the former militants.
On the other hand, commenting on the recent clashes, sources said that the tension was brewing for some time, but no one apprehended the situation to turn worse all of a sudden. Sources said that mistrust between the Bodo and Muslim communities have become very deep, which is a matter of concern. Sources said that several Bodo leaders have been expressing concern over encroachment of the land by suspected immigrants and the pressure on land escalated the tension in the area for some time. The recent formation of a committee for �protection of non Bodos� also aggravated the situation, sources added.
