BONGAIGAON, Feb 12 � Demanding inclusive rehabilitation and compensation to Adivasis, who were the victims of the recent carnage unleashed by NDFB(S) militants, activists of the AASAA, All Santhali Students� Union, Birsa Commando Force and Adivasi Cobra Militant of Assam and the inmates of the Deusri-Santipur relief camp in Chirang district jointly staged a four-hour sit-in demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner�s office at Kajalgaon on Wednesday.
Following the carnage, 29,375 Adivasis of around 90 villages were forced to take shelter in 19 relief camps in Chirang district, of whom 20,055 had returned to their respective villages after the situation became normal.
The rest of the 9,320 Adivasi inmates have been staying in four relief camps in the Deusri and Santipur areas in the district under adverse circumstances.
Since the Adivasis, who became the victims of the militant attacks in 1996 and 1998 in Chirang district, have not been rehabilitated yet by the Government, the camp inmates in Deusri and Santipur have already lost their confidence in the administration. They now want a written assurance from the Government on rehabilitation before leaving the camps, said Rabindra Murmu, a victim of the 1996 attacks.
The demonstrators also sent a memorandum, including the demands of rehabilitation, compensation, security and basic requirements for the camp inmates till their rehabilitation, to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner of the district.
�If the Chief Minister does not respond to our demands, we will block roads and call a strike for an indefinite period in the next phase,� said Shiv Charan Murmu, president of the Deusri-Santipur Relief Committee.
Meanwhile, Chirang Deputy Commissioner Rupak Kumar Mazumdar has reportedly failed to placate the camp inmates despite holding two meetings with them in the matter of rehabilitation and compensation.
According to the local leaders of the apolitical groups, the State Government has no transparent policy and programme for the inclusive rehabilitation of the victims of the carnage and clashes which took place in the BTAD area in the recent past.
