["We do not need any weapons," said Sayed Ali, the lone survivor in his family. "We told the forest minister that if the government cannot protect our lives and property, give us arms to defend ourselves. However, we did not mean what we said. It was said on the spur of the moment and out of anger against the government."]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Non-Bodos-reject-govt-offer-of-guns/articleshow/34699570.cms Non-Bodos reject govt offer of gunsPrabin Kalita<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toireporter/author-Prabin-Kalita.cms> ,TNN | May 5, 2014, 11.58 PM IST Chief minister Tarun Gogoi had said the state government would not provide firearms to the affected in Bodo Territorial Areas District, but added that people had the right to apply for licensed arms. KOKRAJHAR: Residents of Balapara village in Kokrajhar district, where NDFB(S) militants killed seven people on Thursday night, said no to licensed arms for self-defence against militants. Instead, they demanded the state government seize illegal arms in the militancy-torn Bodo areas and provide adequate security to residents. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi had said the state government would not provide firearms to the affected in Bodo Territorial Areas District, but added that people had the right to apply for licensed arms. "The government has not taken any decision in this regard," Gogoi said. "We will provide security to people in the vulnerable areas, increase the number of police pickets and outposts, strengthen village defence parties, form peace committees and take up other security measures. It is an entirely different matter if people want to apply for licensed arms." On Sunday, after visiting Balapara, forest minister Rockybul Husain had told TOI: "The state government has received demands for licensed arms from the villagers themselves." The villagers later told TOI they had sought arms from Husain in a fit of anger. "We do not need any weapons," said Sayed Ali, the lone survivor in his family. "We told the forest minister that if the government cannot protect our lives and property, give us arms to defend ourselves. However, we did not mean what we said. It was said on the spur of the moment and out of anger against the government." His neighbour Zaved said: "We want the government to set up enough security pickets and seize illegal arms in Kokrajhar." The villagers had submitted to Hussain a list of the names of the people they believed possessed illegal arms. Bodoland Territorial Council chief Hagrama Mohilary denied the presence of illegal arms in Bodo areas. An All India United Democratic Front spokesperson said the government should not give arms to people. "It seems the government is trying to start a civil war and we do not want that," the spokesperson said. The BJP said the government's idea of arming villagers against militants reflected a casual approach to a complex problem and a permanent solution should instead be sought. "The government wants to keep this issue alive," BJP state spokesman Santanu Bharali said. "Trouble will continue." *Assam intensifies drive to seize illegal arms* The Assam government on Monday ordered security forces to launch an intensive drive to seize illegal weapons with the assistance of Army personnel deployed in Baksa, Kokrajhar and Bodo Territorial Areas District, even as the situation returned to normal following last week's killings of Muslims by Bodo militants. The body of a seven-year-old girl, who was killed in the attack in Baksa on Friday, was found in the Beki river, taking the death toll up to 35. G P Singh, a senior officer of National Investigation Agency, arrived in Guwahati to finalize the modalities of taking over the investigation of cases on the state government's request. The preliminary report submitted by the police to chief minister Tarun Gogoi clearly hints at the involvement of the IK Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland in the killings. "No incident has been reported in the last 72 hours and curfew has been relaxed in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Baksa districts," said state home commissioner G D Tripathi. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
