Thousands of people took out a protest rally holding placards in Udalguri town on Tuesday demanding National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) chairman Ranjan Daimari’s early release after the special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sentenced Daimari to life imprisonment
The protest rally was organized under the aegis of Bodo Women Justice Forum, Bodo People’s Committee for Peace Initiative (BPCPI) and Society for Indigenous People’s Rights (SIPR).
NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary was found guilty in the October 30, 2008 serial bomb blasts in the State and was convicted to life imprisonment by the CBI special court.
Protestors rented the air with slogans ‘No Ranjan, No Vote’, ‘No Ranjan, No Rest’.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the protest, Bodo Women Justice Forum (BWJF) chairperson Anjali Daimari accused the saffron party of ‘discrimination’ with the insurgent outfit.
“There are several other organizations in Assam which killed people but they were excused. The NDFB which is in peace talks with the Government of India has been has to suffer the biased, partial attitude of the government,” she said.
Anjali alleged that the leaders of the United Liberation Front of Assam – Independent (ULFA-I) received ‘grand welcome’ upon landing in the country while on the other hand, Ranjan was brought to India from Bangladesh ‘tied with an iron chain’.
“The life imprisonment verdict will harm the peace and harmony that the Bodos want in the region,” she added. She further said, “We have never seen in the Indian democracy that the chief of a rebel group has been sentenced to life imprisonment when the peace-talk process with the Centre is underway. Revolutionists can get life imprisonment or the death penalty or whatever and it’s a part of the revolution.”