Guwahati, Jan. 9: Legislators of the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), a constituent of the ruling coalition in Assam, today subtly piled pressure on Dispur to withdraw cases against former members of the now-disbanded Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT).

BPF’s Komali Basumatary made a strong case for withdrawal of cases against ex-BLT cadres during Zero Hour while seeking complete implementation of the tripartite memorandum of settlement (MoS) signed by the state government, the Centre and the BLT on February 10, 2003. She also raised the issue of granting Scheduled Tribe status to Bodos living in Karbi Anglong district.

Her party colleagues Kamal Singh Narzary and Thaneswar Basumatary also raised the issue later. Basumatary spoke on the matter during the debate on the motion of thanks on the governor’s address. The BPF has 11 members in the Assembly of which three are in the Tarun Gogoi cabinet.

Making a case for speedy withdrawal of the cases, Basumatary politely reminded the government about its past assurances on the matter.

“We still have faith in the government. Despite past assurances, a few cases are pending under Tada and need to be withdrawn. Sometimes the accused don’t get court notices but when they do get one and come to appear (in court), they are kept in custody. I request the government to look into this,” Basumatary said.

In addition to withdrawal of the cases, Narzary also sought ex gratia to the kin of those who died during the Bodo movement and rehabilitation of those living in relief camps.

The BPF has been asserting from time to time that an important clause of the MoS is that all pending cases against ex-BLT members and supporters of the Bodo movement would be withdrawn.

Dispur had on November 27, 2003, through an official notification, announced a general amnesty and withdrawal of cases registered against persons related to the Bodo movement since 1987.

The move came after the BLT leadership and the All Bodo Students’ Union (Absu) exerted pressure on the government to withdraw the cases before the formation of the BTC.

Subsequently, cases against some leading BLT leaders were withdrawn to facilitate their participation in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls in 2005.

The BPF now wants the remaining cases to be withdrawn.

“Withdrawal of cases will make their rehabilitation complete,” an official dealing with the cases said.

Replying on behalf of the home department, forest minister Rockybul Hussain said Dispur was actively pursuing the matter of withdrawal of the cases and implementation of the MoS.

He said this would be evident if one visited the BTAD areas and added that 300 of the 452 cases had been withdrawn because of the government’s initiative.

“However, I want to point out that the withdrawal is done by the court. The government can only submit a withdrawal petition. The entire process is being monitored by the CID from time to time,” Hussain said in the House.

He also said 847 ex-BLT cadres had been absorbed against 1,000 vacancies in the paramilitary forces. Besides, the state government has moved the Centre for a one-time financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to (each?) ex-BLT cadres for their rehabilitation. A cadre now gets Rs 2,000 as monthly stipend, he added. Altogether 2,630 BLT cadres had surrendered in 2003.