Even as ULFA “C-in-C” Paresh Baruah opposes the proposed peace talks, the common call from the families of ULFA victims to the insurgent outfit is “to shun violence and sit at the negotiation table for peace to prevail in Assam.”
The victims’ families in Nalbari, once a bastion of the proscribed outfit, are very keen for the peace process as the top ULFA brass has been sitting in a series of meetings in the district during the last few days amongst themselves and with families of killed ULFA cadres to take the peace process forward.
Slain Congress leader Bhadra Patowary’s wife Jamini Patowary wants “the ULFA militants to come forward for the peace talks so that no more families in the State have to suffer losing their earning member”.
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After the gunning down of her husband by the ULFA ultras in front of his house at Arangamau village of Nalbari district in 1998, the family “has been passing through a very critical time both emotionally and financially”.
Her son Robin Patowary said along with the peace process the government should take steps for the permanent settlement of the families who lost their dear ones at the hands of the ULFA.
Similar is the fate of 80-year-old Ramijan Begum of Kamarkuchi village whose husband Ismail Saikia, also a Congress worker, was shot dead by ULFA in 1992.
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As Mr. Saikia had no permanent source of income, Ms. Ramijan had immense financial hardship to maintain her family forcing even her student son Nazrul to become a daily wage labourer.
However, both Ms. Ramijan and Mr. Nazrul have no resentment for their poverty, but they “want the peace talks between the ULFA and the government for the greater interest of the State and its people“.
Seeking a permanent solution to the 31-year-long ULFA problem, Sewali Saikia also of Arangamau said, “The ULFA leadership should repent the killing of innocent people”.
Her ex-serviceman husband Probin Saikia after his retirement had set up a PDS fair price shop at his home for the upkeep of his family. But he was gunned down by the ULFA in 1996 at Kalag village as he was returning home after attending a cooperative society meeting, Ms. Sewali said.
She also demanded that the government takes up measures for the rehabilitation of the victims’ innocent families besides going for the peace talks with ULFA.
Ms. Sewali’s three sons who lost their father at a tender age wanted “a halt to all kinds of violence in the state so that nobody losses their beloved like we did in the hands of the terrorists”.