BTC to take up issue of bringing back NDFB cadres from Bhutan with Amit Shah

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) administration led by Pramod Boro has decided to approach Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his scheduled visit to Kokrajhar on January 24 to discuss about the rehabilitation, withdrawal of cases of disbanded NDFB and 25 cadres of the outfit currently lodged in various jails in Bhutan for years.

The Executive Member for Forest department, BTC, Ranjit Basumatary, who was also the general secretary of NDFB (S), while talking to media persons at Bodoland Guest House here on Monday, said that the BTC administration was taking necessary steps for bringing back 25 cadres of the NDFB lodged in Bhutan jails through the Ministry of Home Affairs. He said that since it was an international issue, the council would approach Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Kokrajhar on January 24 to take up the issue with the Bhutanese counterpart. He also said that they would discuss about the complete rehabilitation and withdrawal of cases against them with Shah.

Basumatary said that several leaders of the NDFB, including cadres, had already been released from Myanmar jail through communication and diplomatic channel between the two countries. On the rehabilitation issue, he said that some cadres of the NDFB would be given rehabilitation package on January 20 as per implementation of the clauses of BTR accord. He said that the former cadres and council members of the NDFB(S) would have to wait for the rehabilitation package till February. He also said that the government had taken all measures to provide rehabilitation package to former NDFB cadres.

On the illegal activities of felling trees, carrying sand and gravel, boulders and running quarries without proper bidding, Basumatary said that he had visited most of the quarries in four districts of BTC to re-examine their documents as most of them were illegal. He, however, said that he had ordered to reopen those quarries and crushers which were running with proper and valid documents. He cautioned to stop all illegal activities in the department or to face punishment.

The EM also said that the cases of two media persons of Kokrajhar who had criminal proceedings under NSA against them were likely to be withdrawn on January 24, the day when Union Home Minister Amit Shah would arrive in Kokrajhar.

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