GUWAHATI, Feb 9 � The All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU) will keep mounting pressure on the Government to ensure a violence-free society by taking action against all those in possession of illegal weapons. The student body also demanded that the Assam State Election Commission take help from the Central Government to ensure that the ensuing election to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) is free and fair.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Pramod Boro, who was elected president of the ABSU for the fourth consecutive term yesterday, said creation of a violence-free society would be one of the priorities of the organisation. He pointed out that so far the steps taken by the Government to ensure peace in the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) are not adequate.
He said that after the gruesome killing of more than 70 persons on December 23, the Government launched an offensive against one militant group. But the ambit of the operations should be expanded and action taken against all those in possession of illegal weapons, he said.
Boro said apart from the militants, some anti-social elements are also in possession of illegal weapons, and they created disturbances in the society. The ABSU requested�had the Central Government to deal with the problem on several occasions, but so far, no strong� action has been taken, he said.
On the role of the ABSU in the ensuing BTC polls, Boro said they would extend�support to the newly formed People�s Coordination for Democratic Rights, an umbrella body of�18 different Bodo and non-Bodo organisations. He said the organisation was floated to� protect the rights of all sections of people living in the BTAD area and to bring about a�political change.
However, Boro expressed apprehension that the election might not be free and fair as�in the past also, the BTC elections witnessed large-scale violence. He demanded that the State�Election Commission ensure security and safety before announcing the election dates and� the help of the Centre should be taken, if necessary, to ensure violence-free polls.
On other priorities of the ABSU, Boro said that they would keep mounting pressure on�the Government for an early solution to the pending political issues of not only the Bodos but also of all the indigenous groups of the State. Solution of the political issues is the only way to�bring peace in society, he said.
