The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), a militant group in ceasefire in Assam on Tuesday sought release of its president Ranjan Daimary from jail, a day after he was convicted for serial bomb blasts in 2008.
Daimary was taken to jail on Tuesday soon after a special court here convicted him and 13 other members of the banned outfit in a CBI case related to the blasts.
General secretary of the outfit, B Ohnjalu said conviction of Daimary was not conducive for the peace talks. “With the president in jail, the NDFB will have to reconsider the purpose of the peace talks as well as re-evaluate the earnestness of the government of India,” he said.
Daimary, who was arrested in Bangladesh and brought to Assam in 2010, was released on bail in June 2013 and took part in peace talks with the government. “After formal ceasefire agreement on November 29, 2013, NDFB have had several rounds of talks with the government appointed interlocutor A B Mathur. However, in the middle of the peace talks, the conviction does not bode well for the same,” the statement said.
The near-simultaneous blasts in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Barpeta Road and Bongaigaon on October 30, 2008 had left 88 dead and nearly 500 others injured. The attack resulted in so much of mayhem that it was termed as the deadliest militant attack so far in the state’s nearly 40-year-long militancy history.
Assam had erupted in anger and protests against militancy and all called for strictest action against those involved in the attacks. Governments have also faced criticism for delaying justice and for releasing Daimary on bail before the verdict.
The CBI, which had taken over the investigation from Assam police in December 2008, had chargesheeted 22 accused, including Daimary, in 2011.
Of the 22, three were dead and four absconding. The special court will pronounce the quantum of punishment on Wednesday.