File picture of kids lighting candles to pay homage to the children who died in the Dhemaji blast on August 15, 2007

Dibrugarh, Jan. 2: At a time when the homecoming of Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa is being celebrated with euphoria, the All Assam Tai Ahom Students Union questioned the logic of such celebrations.

Instead, the union demanded a proper answer from Rajkhowa and Ulfa for killing its founder organising secretary Dimbeswar Gogoi.

On November 3, 1989, Gogoi, a resident of Rahongaon under Sapekhati police station in Sivasagar district, was abducted by Ulfa militants while he was on his way back from Tinsukia. Gogoi had gone to Tinsukia to attend a meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office on issues related to the development of the Tai-Ahom community.

“It is quite unusual. We are surprised and cannot make out as to why people, whose hands are dipped in the blood of innocents, are being accorded heroes’ welcome. For us, Ulfa has not yet replied as to why they killed Dimbeswar. We will boycott all Ulfa-organised functions till it comes up with a reply,” president of the union, Pranjal Rajkonwar, said in a news release.

Dimbeswar Gogoi was subjected to severe physical torture by Ulfa in its camp at Lakhipathar reserve forest and was allegedly buried while he was still breathing. The army later recovered his mutilated body from a mass grave during Operation Bajrang, which was launched on November 27, 1990.

“Ulfa, which claims to be fighting for the people of the state, will have to reply why it had tortured and killed Dimbeswar Gogoi. Although we have our moral support for permanent settlement of the Ulfa issue, we will not participate in any meeting convened by them,” Rajkonwar said.

The Tai-Ahom community has a sizeable presence in Sivasagar district and independent analysts believe that the stand taken by the student body will definitely have an impact on the proposed peace process in the future. The union has also declared that this time it will not allow any Ulfa leader, including Arabinda Rajkhowa, to organise any kind of programme at the memorial of Dimeswar Gogoi at Rahongaon in Sapekhati. “Last time, Rajkhowa’s wife Kaberi quietly came to Rahongaon and offered floral tributes at the memorial of Dimbeswar. We will not allow any Ulfa leader to organise any programme this time. It will have to come up with an explanation,” Rajkonwar said.