KALAIGAON, Sept 2 � The Udalguri police has taken up an exceptional step to counter extremist threats by boosting the morale of the affected people in the district. A villagers meet was arranged at Bongaon Hirapara village, under Kalaigaon police station (in Bhergaon subdivision) on the night of August 24 last. Although situated just 7 km away from Kalaigaon police station, the people of this village have been living under constant extremist threat for several years since 1998.
In another recent incident, three unknown boys had come to this village in July this year. Identifying themselves as NDFB cadres, they ordered the villagers to pay them an amount of rupees one lakh twenty thousand within three days. They also ordered the villagers to collect rupees five thousand each from the rich families and rupees two thousands from the poor families. A few days back a phone call was made to one Kamal Debnath of the village repeating the same threat. The call was made from a mobile phone (7896746677). The villagers decided not to pay the money and accordingly informed Kalaigaon police station and Kalaigaon Army camp for protection.
It may be mentioned that there are 35 families in the village, mostly of Bengali Hindus. The villagers had been targeted previously in August 1998, when extremists cadres mercilessly gunned down five villagers namely -Rakhal Debnath; Rabi Debnath, Purna Debnath, Subodh Debnath and another for non payment of extortion money. Since then the villagers have been harassed regularly. But the brave villagers never made any compromise with the extremists and continued their fight against terrorism.
Debojit Deuri, SP, Udalguri and TR Pegu, SDPO, Bhergaon subdivision organised a villagers meet at Bongaon Hirapara LP School on the night of August 24 to discuss the security matter of the villagers. All the villagers attended the meet to narrate their sad story before police, and mediapersons. Debojit Deuri, SP, Udalguri personally talked to the villagers including the students and children.He also exchanged views with them for several hours.
Talking to the media persons,TR Pegu, SDPO, Bhergaon disclosed that regular police patrolling in the village had already been arranged and an extremist named Sarat Sarania (30) of the village Khagara near Khoirabari had been arrested on August 24. Police produced the arrested youth before the media and villagers. According to police the phone call was made from the mobile phone of the arrested boy.
