Assam: BTAD Sets Condition for Resettlement of People
Jolted by the recent violence in districts under Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District administration in Assam, the authorities there have set certain conditions for resettlement of displaced people.
Credentials of persons, who have been rendered homeless by the clashes between minority immigrants and Bodos, which have claimed 77 lives, would be thoroughly checked before allowing them to resettle, BTAD chief Hagrama Mohilary said here.
"We will not allow any suspected person to resettle in the Bodoland area unless he or she produces valid documents proving they are genuine Indian citizens," he said.
While the Centre and the Assam government have denied involvement of Bangladeshi immigrants in the recent clashes with Bodo tribals, the
BTAD chief hinted that minority immigrants had been behind the clashes.
"Suspected Bangladeshi immigrants will not be allowed to settle in BTAD areas. Ration cards and electricity bills cannot be the only proofs of their citizenship. We have the land documents which will prove their credentials," Mohilary said.
Mohilary said the people who wanted to be rehabilitated should have "genuine land documents" and care will be taken that the indigenous people do not lose their land rights.
Asked to comment on the use of arms by miscreants, he strongly denied that the Bodo tribals had used illegal arms.
"Bodo people did not use arms, but some people received bullet injuries after they were shot at by security personnel," he said.
Meanwhile, influential Bodo forums as the Bodo Women's Justice Forum, Bodo Sahitya Sabha and the Bodoland Citizens Forum have also supported the views of the BTAD chief.
They said the displaced persons should be identified on the basis of the voters' list with the cut off year being 1971.
The leaders have also demanded total sealing of the porous Indo-Bangla border, including the riverine border, and special protection of tribal belts and blocks.