Ex-Bodo militants call off blockade

Guwahati, May 25 (UNI) The former Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) cadres today temporary withdrew their 100-hour road-cum-rail blockade following an assurance of a formal discussion with the Asom Chief Minister on May 28.

The Ex-BLT cadres, under the banner of Ex-BLT Welfare Society, had launched a 100-hour road-cum-rail blockade in western Asom from yesterday, protesting the killings and attacks by the militants of Nationalist Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), now in truce.

President of the welfare society Jono Mohan Basumatary said, '' We have decided to temporarily withdraw the blockade. We will wait for the discussion with the Chief Minister on May 28.'' He said if the discussion failed to yield any results, the remaining hours of the 100-hour blockade would be imposed.

The Ex-BLT cadres had staged a protest at Dispur here yesterday, demanding that the ceasefire agreement with the NDFB be quashed.

It alleged that the outfit was regrouping and reorganizing as well as carrying out extortion and subversive activities taking advantage of the ceasefire.

The chief minister had assured of discussing the issues raised by them on May 28.

The blockade had thrown off-gear the entire road and rail communication in western Asom yesterday.

Though train traffic resumed last evening, trucks and long-distance passenger buses kept off the roads for the second day today after running for a few hours late last evening.

No untoward incident was, however, reported during the period.

UNI