Don't engage with any splinter Bodo group: NDFB (P) to govt

The government should not entertain any splinter Bodo group from Assam as it will affect the ongoing peace process in the northeastern state, according to NDFB (P) chief Gobinda Basumatary.

His argument came after the insurgent group's senior leader and president of its executive body, Dhiren Bodo, was expelled by the top command of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Progressive) last month.

Unfazed by the unceremonious ouster, Dhiren Bodo along with some of his supporters has since formed his own faction with the same nomenclature and is said to have met several senior central government officials seeking their endorsement to replace the Basumatary-led faction as the representative of Bodos in the ongoing peace process.

Basumatary, whose NDFB (P) was the first armed extremist group of the Bodos to initiate peace talks with the Centre, alleged that despite informing the central government officials about the emergence of a splinter group, there has been no communication from their end.

"As of now, the peace talks are going on smoothly and in a positive direction. However, there are chances of them getting negatively impacted if the government entertains the splinter group and negotiates with them instead of us," Basumatary told PTI.

"We have informed the peace negotiation team about the expulsion of Dhiren Bodo from NDFB (P) due to his anti-group activities," he added.

He claimed that the NDFB (P) led by him is the main stakeholder representing the interests of the Bodo community and the Centre had initiated the talks with his faction.

"We are still hopeful that the government won't make them (Dhiren Bodo's group) part of the negotiations because if it happens then there would be serious problems," Basumatary said.

S Sanjarang, who was elected 'general secretary' of the executive body during the general assembly, alleged that the central government was silent on the entire issue and some state government officials have allowed the splinter group cadres to occupy the designated camps which were allotted to them as part of the peace negotiation provisions.

"We have been asking both the governments and the police to clarify their stand on Dhiren Bodo and on what ground his supporters are occupying government allotted designated camp in Baksa district," Sanjarang said.

Reacting to Sanjarang's claim, a top Assam Police official said, "The allegations against the Assam Police of provoking the group to split are bizarre. Why should we get into the internal matter of NDFB (P) since they are into peace negotiations with the Centre? The split and creation of a new group is entirely an internal matter of the group."