Guwahati: The situation in insurgency affected areas along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary in north Assam’s Sonitpur district has apparently turned for the worse with an opposition MLA on Wednesday expressing that his life was under constant threat from militants and might not live till the next session of Assam House.
Legislator Padma Hazarika who represents Sootea LAC in the insurgency-hit Sonitpur district of Assam said that he was facing threat to his life from outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Sangbijit faction) for raising his voice against the design of the militant group.
Hazarika was elected to House as a legislator of regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) which recently expelled hi for the party for not abiding by party directive while casting his vote in the last Rajya Sabha polls in Assam.
He said the NDFB-S has been on a rampage in areas along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary in Sonitpur district of North Assam by demanding monthly tax from villagers, petty traders as well as small tea growers in the area.
Hazarika has already raised in Assam assembly that every household in remote areas along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary has been spending sleepless nights out of the fear for the NDFB-S militants who demand monthly tax from every household. The people living in those remote parts of the state are poor and can’t afford paying ‘monthly tax’ to militant outfit.
The MLA alleged that there was no adequate presence of police personnel in those areas to protect the villagers from marauding ultras who severely punish innocent villagers for failing to pay monthly tax. “The NDFB-S is virtually running a parallel government in remote parts of Sonitpur district and the situation will soon spin out of control, if the state government doesn’t take stern action promptly,” he said.
Two ruling Congress MLAs, Bhupen Bora and Rajen Borthakur who represent different constituencies in Sonitpur district also stated that there was insufficient infrastructure and facilities in those remote bordering areas to facilitate sustained police operation against the ultras.
The MLAs cited lack of adequate vehicles, manpower, barricades and even drinking
water supply for police personnel to carry out counter-insurgency operations in those areas for a longer period.
The MLAs said such at adverse atmosphere has affected the morale of the police force and the state government must act prompt to take some immediate measures to boost the morale of the force.
