ULFA must be made answerable for crimes By A Staff Reporter - Assam Tribune http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=apr2807/at02
GUWAHATI, April 27 - While the fasting wives of the six missing ULFA leaders made media headlines for quite some time, it is now the turn of the scores of families that had to part with their near and dear ones due to the ULFA's brutality to launch a protest demonstration. Many of these suffering families do not know even today the exact fate of their kin who had been kidnapped years back, as their bodies were never found. The protesters, under the banner of the Assam Public Works (APW), today submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, urging, among other things, to ensure that the ULFA was made answerable for all the deaths committed by the banned outfit since 1979 till today. "Many of those kidnapped by the ULFA remain traceless even now. The outfit must be made answerable for all such heinous crimes," the demonstrators said. Sabitri Rabha, wife of Indramohan Hakasam, a journalist who had been traceless since his abduction on June 24, 2003, in Goalpara, narrated the plight of her family after the incident. "We have no source of income and I am leading a miserable existence with three minor children. It is only with the support of the missionary charity that my two children have been able to continue with their education so far," she said, adding that she had received a government grant of Rs l lakh in 2007. "Unless I get a job, it would be impossible to run the family," she said. Sabitri is not alone in her plight. The list of victims of ULFA brutality includes hundreds others - some of who are well-known names like Sanjoy Ghose of AVARD-NE, journalist Kamala Saikia, Russian engineer Sergei Gritsanko, etc., but most others are from an obscure background - like Munin Chetia (73) of Sivasagar, whose teenaged son Sunil was gunned down by the ULFA on October 3, 1991. Sumita Ghose, wife of Sanjoy Ghose, who could not attend the demonstration, said that peaceful and constructive measures like the APW stir was the only means to fight injustice and compel the authorities to take action. "I extend my support and solidarity to the agitating family members. We should continue to fight for our dues in a peaceful and constructive manner," she told this correspondent over phone from Kolkata. The agitators vehemently condemned the ULFA leadership for leading opulent lives outside the State and working at the behest of the ISI. "If ULFA c-in-c Paresh Baruah and chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa have the guts, they should come and stay in Assam," a festoon read. APW director Abhijit Sarma said that the Government ought to take the issue of the victims of ULFA violence seriously and initiate remedial measures. "The victim families must be adequately compensated and also the kin of the dead given jobs, as it is a matter of sustaining their families," he said. He further said that the ULFA leadership must come out of the grip of the ISI and start a dialogue with the Government. "I also appeal to the people of Assam to fight terror jointly and build a peaceful Assam," he said. Members from over 80 families that had suffered due to ULFA violence are taking part in the two-day demonstrations. "We have around 200 members from such families in the APW, and more are expected to join the stir tomorrow," Sarma said.
