Some vote, otehrs kill in Asom polls

Guwahati, Apr 10 (UNI) If one militant group tried to hamper polling, another came out to vote. The other two remained mute spectators.

Such was the role of leading four militant organisations of Asom in the second and final phase of polling today.

The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), into talks with the Centre through its appointed group, and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), into a cease fire with the government, had announced neutrality in the poll process.

This was the maiden time that the ULFA had not given a poll boycott call since its inception. True to their words, both the ULFA and the NDFB maintained peace throughout the process.

However, the proscribed Karbi Longri North Cachar Liberation Front (KLNLF) proved to be the eyesore with the outfit not only giving a boycott call in the hill district of Karbi Anglong, but also engaging in violent activities.

The KLNLF militants abducted one CRPF jawan and shot another in separate incidents. Two BSF personnel were also injured in a KLNLF triggered ied blast.

But the activism of cadres of another outfit, the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), in the poll process put militancy in the region in a different light.

As many as 87 DHD cadres, the group is into a cease fire with the government, exercised their franchise in two booths at Haflong in south Asom and Dhansiri area of Diphu constituency in central Asom.

Chairman of the outfit Dilip Nunisa led the cadres to the polling booths. Reasserting their belief in the democratic process, the cadres voted for peace and progress of the region.

UNI XC-SG PC DB1825