Sonowal declares Mukhi’s ‘disturbed’ Assam a terrorism-free state

DIPHU: Close on the heels of governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi declaring Assam a “disturbed state” for six more months, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal today declared Assam a “terrorism-free” state.

The statement came at a time when the state has been going through uncertainty over the abduction of two oil company employees by the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), alleged return of former National Democratic Front of Boroland leader M Batha to the jungles and recovery of huge caches of arms and ammunition in The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

Addressing an election meeting at Dengaon here today, Sonowal said: “The state government has fulfilled its promise of terrorism-free Assam following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s motto of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikash, Sabka Viswas.”

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The meeting was also attended by Union home minister Amit Shah who also claimed “peace has come back to the state as several militant groups have surrendered arms and come back to mainstream”.

In his speech, Sonowal said the people of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong have proved that they want peace and development and he congratulated the 1040 members of five Karbi militant groups for laying down arms and joining the mainstream.

Shah also referred to laying down of arms by the militants of five militant groups from Karbi Anglong a few days ago in front of Sonowal and said under the BJP-led government the hill districts of Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao are progressing rapidly towards peace and prosperity.

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Terming peace as a prerequisite for development and progress, Shah also asserted that due to both central and state government’s dedicated efforts Bodo militant groups have also surrendered arms. He also mentioned the signing of peace accord with Bru militants in Tripura and surrender of several other militant groups in Assam.

Assam education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also spoke on the occasion and spoke about various educational institutions being set up at both Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts. He also announced that a state university and an engineering college would also be set up in Karbi Anglong soon.

Karbi hills region had seen tremendous violence, bloodshed and struggle for fulfilling aspirations of the people in the past and under BJP-led governments at both Centre and state, peace has come back to the region and a peace accord would also be signed soon to make Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts most peaceful and developed in the country, the minister said.