by  Preetam BC

Kokrajhar  : In a significant development to the peace parley with the insurgent group- the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), two top leaders of the NDFB -Saoraigwra (NDFB(S) including army chief-cum-vice-chairman G. Bidai alias Bishnu Goyary and “commander” Batha alias Binod Mushahary have returned to the mainland and joined the other members of the outfit for a permanent solution to the long pending Bodoland issues.

G Bidhai and M. Batha, two of the topmost leaders of the NDFB (S), on Wednesday along with over 500 cadres of the outfit, came out from undisclosed camps along India-Bhutan. They were later taken to the newly set-up designated camp at Digli in Kokrajhar where the outfit’s President B. Saoraigwra and general secretary B.R. Ferenga were sheltered. Both Saoraigwra and Ferenga along with around 50 members return India from Myanmar on January 11 and signed a tripartite ceasefire agreement with the Centre and Assam government on January 16. The NDFB-S leaders and other members have since started taking shelter in the designated camp at Digli area under Bishmuri police outpost in Kokrajhar district; around 50km north of Bodoland Territorial Council headquarter.

A senior government official said so far over 600 members of the rebel group have come over ground and started taking shelter in the designated camp.

“We have accepted the ceasefire because we want the long-pending demands of the Bodos to be addressed. Everybody wants peace and we respect peace and that peace will come through solution to the demands of the Boros. Through this peace process or negotiation, the government would hopefully establish peace in our region. We are hopeful the Centre is quite in positive about our demand and now we are eagerly waiting to sign the peace agreement for a peaceful solution,” Saoraigwra said talking to Reporters.

Stating that the new agreement should be a people’s agreement inclusively, acceptable to all, he said the long pending issue of the Bodo community will be solved within a very short period.

It is to be noted that the banned NDFB, has signed an agreement with the government for suspension of operations last week. According to the pact, the National Democratic Front of Boroland under the leadership of its ‘president’ B Saoraigwra will abjure violence and join in peace talks with the government.