A passenger bus allegedly burnt down by Birsa Commando Force activists at Monabari during a bandh. A file picture

Guwahati, Feb. 13: Miffed with Dispur’s alleged indifference towards its demands, the Birsa Commando Force (BCF) has decided to press for a tripartite arrangement, involving the Centre, in place of the ongoing bilateral peace process.

A bilateral ceasefire was signed between the outfit and the state government in August, 2004 but things have allegedly not moved beyond the joint monitoring group-level meetings that primarily “discuss” law and order issues. This has apparently compelled the outfit, formed in 1997 for the protection of the Adivasi community in wake of the ethnic riots between the Bodos and the Adivasis in the Bodo belt, to seek involvement of the Centre in the truce.

BCF’s commander-in-chief Birsing Munda said the outfit has already conveyed its intent to state government officials with whom it has been regularly interacting since the ceasefire.

“We now plan to submit a memorandum to the Centre through the joint secretary (in charge of Northeast) Navin Verma who is visiting Guwahati shortly, demanding tripartite talks instead of the bipartite arrangement that was heading nowhere,” Munda said.

The force also plans to submit a copy of the memorandum to the director-general of police G.M. Srivastava, inspector general of police (special branch) Khagen Sarma and the home department.

“The issue is also likely to figure at a joint monitoring group meeting to be held at or around the same time Verma comes calling,” Munda said.

The force has been demanding a separate Adivasi land, Scheduled Tribes status and security for the community.

“But no progress has been made so far. Our community has been robbed of its land and there is no security. All our demands are within the Constitution and we want a settlement within its framework. Still the state government has been totally indifferent to our demands,” Munda alleged.

That the outfit was planning to get back at the government in a “democratic” manner was clear from Munda’s observations that its fieldworkers have started mobilising community members about the step-motherly treatment meted out to the community. “Meetings are being held with intellectuals and community elders. Already we have extended our support to the newly floated National People’s Party, which has been formed to secure the rights of the community, among others. It is not that we will lie low till the peace process moves forward. The time has come for the community to assert itself politically,” Munda added.

Things between the force and the government seem to have hit a low since the killing of three Adivasi youths by security personnel in Udalguri district on December 21.

Moreover, the subsequent arrests of the members of the Birsa Commando Force for allegedly indulging in arson during a bandh in Sonitpur district to protest the killing of the Adivasi youths, worsened matters.