Bodo conflict in Assam-the complex factors involved

Assam is once again in the news for all the wrong reasons.This time,the NDFB(S),a breakaway faction of larger NDFB group has attacked tribal people,mainly women and children,for no fault of theirs.This was a barbaric act of crimes against humanity which can neither be condoned nor justified.

The NDFB(S) appears to have no clear aims and objectives.They are opposed against the larger NDFB group,led by Ranjan Daimary,which is in a ceasefire agreement with the Indian Government.The indiscriminate killings of the innocent people in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts of Assam was a retaliatory action against the offensive launched by the state police forces against the militant group.In 2012,they resorted to divisive tactics of dividing Hindus against the Muslims,which led to wider communal conflict between the two groups.As one police officer has stated,the militant group engages in such divisive tactics thus taking time to regroup themselves and exposing the maladministration of the state government in maintaining law and order.

Moreover,there are complex factors involved which cause tension in these areas.In the Bodo Territorial Administered Districts(BTAD),the Bodos constitute only 30 percent of the population.Rest of the population comprises of Assamese,Bengali Hindus,Kuch-Rajbongshi and the adivasis.The Bodo Peoples Party(BPP) wield political power in the region often resorting to violence and intimidation to supress other ethnic groups.This has not gone down well with non-Bodo ethnic groups,resulting in recurrent conflicts in the region.

With the political rise of BPP(the erstwhile BLT,a militant group),the acolytes of prominent militant leaders benefitted.The government gave amnesty to the leaders,who were accused of grave crimes prior to the cease-fire agreement in 2003.Some of these leaders committed criminal acts with impunity for narrow political interests.Thus a sense of laxity and impunity developed among these groups,who continuously try to disrupt the peace in this region.The state government has also failed to prosecute these wrong-doers.It has given free hand to these groups,primarily the BPP,which is a political ally of the Congress party at the state.

The union government,responsible for enforcing cease-fire ground rules,has failed to do so.The cease-fire ground rules clearly prohibit the reconciled groups to carry arms or move in uniforms outside designated camps.They can neither procure additional arms nor take part in extortion or intimidation of individuals including government officials.Yet,these Bodos and Dimasas groups flout the rules with impunity.

It would be unfair to ignore the problem of illegal migration in the state.The people in the North-east India are very conscious of their identity over land,territory and natural resources.The illegal migration in the state has altered the demography of the region.The land encroachment continues with the connivance of state administration and the immigrants.This has created a sense of alienation among the ethnic tribes in the region resulting in conflicts.

The first responsibility of the State government is to provide security to the ordinary people.The state administration should carry out effective monitoring of any impending ethnic-conflict.It should prosecute those individuals responsible for alleged crimes against humanity,irrespective of political affiliation.There should be sustained dialogue between the government and those groups who gave up arms for the sake of peace.Monitoring and supervision of designated 'cease-fire camps'should be carried out on a monthly basis.A comprehensive action plan needs to be drawn so as to accomodate all the ethnic groups in the path of development.