Guwahati, Aug. 10: Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Hagrama Mohilary has sought security for Prithviraj Narayan Dev Mech, a descendent of Bodo king Chikra Mech, who has twice received threats allegedly from the National Democratic Front of Boroland (Saoraigwra) which accused him of working against their demand for a sovereign Bodoland.
The 20-year-old Prithviraj, who was "coronated" as the prince last year, lodged an FIR at Kokrajhar police station on Tuesday following text messages from a person, identifying himself as B. Mithinga of the NDFB (S), a militant outfit, the day before.
He got another threat from the same phone number this morning.
Mohilary had written a letter to director-general of police Mukesh Sahay on July 29 after Prithviraj expressed fears that "some miscreants" might target him because of his closeness with the BTC chief and his party, the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), an ally of the BJP-led state government.
"I got scared after the message as a student leader was killed in broad daylight in Kokrajhar recently. So I lodged the FIR and a case was registered. I expected prompt action from police but have seen no step as yet. I informed the inspector-general of police, BTAD, Anurag Agarwal, and Kokrajhar superintendent of police, Rajen Singh, about the threats too. Today they threatened to shoot me and now I am scared to move out of my home," Prithviraj told The Telegraph from Kokrajhar.
Prithviraj is the 19th descendent of Bodo King Chikra Mech who headed the Sidli royal state (now in Bodoland Territorial Areas District).
Prithviraj is close to Mohilary, a former militant leader who joined politics after signing the Bodo Accord in 2003 and became head of the BTC.
However, the NDFB, which is demanding a sovereign Bodoland, refused to be a part of the accord and continued their armed movement. Two other factions of the outfit, NDFB (Progressive) and NDFB (Ranjan) are in ceasefire and holding talks with the government.
"I am not a member of the BPF or any other political party. Being the prince of Bodos, I have to maintain relations with various sections of society and so I have good relations with Mohilary as he heads the BTC," he said.
He said Mohilary had written the letter to the DGP, requesting security, as the law and order issues are handled by the state government and not by the BTC.
"I request the state police to provide me security immediately. I don't understand why the police are ignoring the threat and my request for security," he said.
A police officer in Kokrajhar said they were looking into the FIR and assessing the threat percept to Prithviraj. "A decision will soon be taken," said the officer.
The killing of Lafiqul Islam, the president of the All Bodoland Minority Students' Union, on August 1 near Kokrajhar town vitiated the security atmosphere in the often tense BTAD.
