On January 11 a militant of unspecified militant group was arrested from Khopati in Dhubri District of Assam in India, tweets Eastern Army Command.
Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Hagrama Mohilary stated that a peace accord containing all factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Centre would be inked in near future, reports East Mojo. Some members of NDFB-S, led by its chairman B Saoraigwra, are all set to meet the Government of India representatives to start peace parleys shortly as the insurgent group members are already in New Delhi to talk peace. If peace parleys with the NDFB-S start this time, then the United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I) will be the only remaining insurgent outfit active in the state.
North Cachar Hills Indigenous People’s Forum (NCHIPF) on January 13 staged a sit-in in front of the office of Dima Hasao Deputy Commissioner, demanding immediate bifurcation of Dima Hasao District of Assam into two autonomous Districts, reports The Telegraph. The protest was supported by the North Cachar Hills Indigenous Students’ Forum (NCHISF). The protesters also submitted a memorandum to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal through deputy commissioner Amitabh Rajkhowa in support of their demands. The memorandum said that after forcible renaming of North Cachar Hills District as Dima Hasao by the Government on March 31, 2010 amid strong protests by the indigenous non-Dimasa people, who constitute 67 per cent of the total population. Under the banner of NCHIPF, indigenous people started demanding creation of a separate autonomous District with separate council under provisions 1(3) (c) & 2 (1) of Articles 244(2) and 275 (1) of the Sixth Schedule.
High powered committee on implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord on January 13 announced that its final report will be ready in a fortnight, reports The Telegraph. The Union home ministry had constituted the high- powered committee in July last year to suggest how to implement Clause 6.Biplab Kumar Sarma, the Chairman of the Committee stated that “In preparing such a report, some points seem to be minor but are necessary. We did not seek an extension to submit the report. We hope it will be ready within 15 days”. Clause 6 of the Assam Accord promises constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote the culture, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the “Assamese” people. He also ruled out taking the year 1971 as a cut-off date for identification of Assamese people as has been demanded by some organisations and political parties like the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). He stated that “The year 1971 is for identification of foreigners only.”