New Delhi, January 27

The government on Monday signed an accord with the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), one of the dreaded insurgent groups of Assam, providing political and economic bonanza sans a separate state or Union Territory.

The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), which has been spearheading a movement for a Bodoland state since 1972, and another group called United Bodo People’s Organisation were also signatories to the accord.

In the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the tripartite agreement was signed by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, top leadership of the four factions of the NDFB, ABSU, Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Satyendra Garg and Assam Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna.

The home minister described the agreement as “historic” and it will bring permanent solution to the decades old problems of the Bodo people.

“This agreement will facilitate all round development of the Bodo areas, their language and culture will be protected without compromising the territorial integrity of Assam,” he said.

The home minister said due to the violence perpetrated by the Bodo militants, over 4,000 people lost their lives in the past few decades.

Shah said no stone would be left unturned for the development of Assam and the North-eastern region.

The Assam chief minister said after the pact, different communities in the state will be able to live with harmony.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the pact will bring comprehensive solution to the Bodo issue.

“It is a historical accord,” he said.

Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said as per the accord, 1,550 militants belonging to the NDFB lay down their arms on January 30, an economic programme of Rs 1,500 crore will be implemented in the next three years with equal contribution of Rs 750 crore each from the Central and state governments.

The existing structure of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) will be strengthened with more powers and its seats will be expanded from 40 to 60, he said.

A commission will be set up for inclusion of Bodo dominated villages in the BTC and exclusion of those where Bodos are not in majority.

This was the third Bodo accord to be signed in last 27 years when the violent movement for a separate Bodoland state claimed hundreds of lives, destruction of public and private properties.

The first Bodo accord was signed with the All Bodo Students Union in 1993, leading to creation of a Bodoland Autonomous Council with limited political powers.

In 2003, the second Bodo accord was signed with the militant group Bodo Liberation Tigers, leading to formation of a Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) with four districts of Assam—Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska and Udalguri—called Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD).

The name of the BTC will be changed to Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

The BTC currently has control over 30 subjects like education, forests, horticulture but no jurisdiction over the police, revenue and general administration departments, which are controlled by the Assam Government.

The BTC was formed under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.

The demand for a separate state for the Bodos has been going on in Assam for about five decades and several Bodo overground and militant groups raising it leading to agitations, protests, violence and many deaths. — PTI

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 23

Accomplishing an ambitious mission on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a 40-day, four-nation and 4,000-km cycling expedition of Jalandhar-based Col Sarfaraz Singh and his team of three experts concluded at Singapore on Thursday.

It was in Singapore that Bose laid the foundation stone of the Indian National Army memorial during on June 8, 1945. So, completion of the tour today is significant, said Col Sarafaraz’s father and former hockey Olympian Col Balbir Singh (retd).

Col Balbir said: “My son has gone on the expedition with three teammates, Saurav, Mithin and Amit. Sarafaraz and his team have become the first and the only Indians to cycle from Manipur to Singapore, via Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. They rode along the coastlines of the Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Thailand, Strait of Malacca and Singapore Strait. The passage included difficult terrains and thick jungles. They also crossed the famous bridge on the Kwai river in Myanmar and Georgetown in Penang Island of Mayasia. In Thailand, Ambassador Suchitra Durai flagged off their expedition.”

An alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun, and the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Col Sarfaraz Singh is the fourth generation officer in the Indian Army. He has a vast experience of scaling prominent peaks, including Mt Everest and Mt Kilimanjaro. He is also among the few mountaineers from the country who reached the base of Mt Nyegyi Kansang from Seppa in Arunachal Pradesh.

Col Sarafaraz conducted the first-ever rafting expedition on the untamed and challenging Kameng river of Arunachal Pradesh. He also led and cycled the first high altitude expedition from Bomdila to Bumla pass, covering a total distance of 300 km.

Col Sarfaraz, who is from the elite Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army and has commanded its 6 Para unit, took over as the first director and principal of the National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports in February 2017. He is not just a mountaineer but also a sky diver, combat free faller, river rafting specialist and a certified scuba rescue diver.

Our Correspondent

Jammu, January 23

On his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Thursday reviewed security and operational readiness along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu region.

The Army Chief, along with Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, General Officer Commanding, Northern Command, also called on Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu and discussed the prevailing security situation. Murmu was appreciative of the synergy between the Army, other security forces and the civil administration in maintaining law and order.

At the Northern Command Headquarters in Udhampur, the General was briefed by Lt Gen Ranbir Singh on the LoC situation and also in the hinterland. The Army Chief was appreciative of the efforts put in by the Northern Command to meet the challenges posed by inimical elements.

Gen Naravane also visited troopers on the LoC to review operational readiness of the units of White Knight Corps. He was briefed and updated by Lt General Harsha Gupta, General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps, and commanders on ground. He interacted with soldiers and lauded them for their unwavering dedication to duty, selfless devotion and high standard of professionalism.

The need to remain prepared for all contingencies was also reinforced by Chief of Army Staff during his interaction with the troopers. “General Manoj Mukund Naravane commended the standard operating procedures institutionalised to ensure safe and secure environment and mission readiness of the troops. He conveyed his satisfaction on the people-friendly measures undertaken in quick timeframe,” an Army spokesperson said.

Srinagar, January 25

On Republic Day, Lt General KJS Dhillon has been awarded the prestigious Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) in recognition of his tenure as Chinar Corps Commander.

“His tenure saw a number terrorist leaders getting killed, bringing peace to the Valley,” an Army statement said.

Working in complete harmony and synergy with other security forces, intelligence agencies and in coordination with civilian administration, he contributed in maintaining peace in the Valley, especially post August 5 , 2019.

Last year, Lt Gen Dhillon reached out to mothers via “Operation MAA”, engaging them for the return of the youths who had joined terrorist outfits. — TNS