Adivasis take to arms
Guwahati (Assam): In Assam’s history of ethnic violence, this could well be the next chapter. The adivasis are fast replacing their sickles and ploughs for arms and ammunition.
In the jungles of the Assam-Bengal border and in parts of Upper Assam, gun-toting men in battle fatigues are making their presence felt.
Says Chairman of Adivasi Cobra military of Assam, Xavier Khakha, “With the help of few youths, we have formed an underground organisation. Adivasi Cobra military of Assam. It is basically for our defence purpose.”
Things have changed drastically after the outbreak of violence against an Adivasi rally and the stripping of an Adivasi woman in Guwahati.
The Cobra’s numbers swelled overnight.
And so has another militant outfit – Adivasi National Liberation of Assam (ANLA) – which announced itself with the bombing of the Rajdhani Express earlier this month.
They may be pushing the rest as well towards more violent means.
"ANLA and we have separate demands. Earlier our movement was peaceful. But government is not taking action. Something needs to be done to heat things up,” says Khakha.
Although ANLA’s links with Jharkhand-based Naxal groups have emerged after the train bombing, the Cobra denies direct links.
“They are our own people in Jharkhand. We have taken steps where in we have taken our demands to them,” says Khakha.
The incidents in the past weeks – including the bomb blasts in Rajdhani express – could well be an indication of the times to come.
Source : ibnlive.com/news
