ULFA victim''s families want peace process to go ahead

Nalbari(Assam), Jan 29 (PTI) Even as ULFA ''C-in-C'' PareshBaruah opposes the proposed peace talks, the common call fromthe families of ULFA victims to the insurgent outfit is "toshun violence and sit at the negotiation table for peace toprevail in Assam."

The victims'' families in Nalbari, once a bastion of theproscribed outfit, are very keen for the peace process as thetop ULFA brass has been sitting in a series of meetings in thedistrict during the last few days amongst themselves and withfamilies of killed ULFA cadres to take the peace processforward.

Slained Congress leader Bhadra Patowary''s wife JaminiPatowary wants "the ULFA militants to come forward for thepeace talks so that no more families in the state have tosuffer losing their earning member".

After the gunning down of her husband by the ULFA ultrasin front of his house at Arangamau village of Nalbari districtin 1998, the family "has been passing through a very criticaltime both emotionally and financially".

Her son Robin Patowary said that along with the peaceprocess the government should take steps for the permanentsettlement of the families who lost their dear ones at thehands of the ULFA.

Similar is the fate of 80-year-old Ramijan Begum ofKamarkuchi village whose husband Ismail Saikia, also aCongress worker, was shot dead by ULFA in 1992. As Saikia hadno permanent source of income, Ramijan had immense financialhardship to maintain her family forcing even her student sonNazrul to become a daily wage labourer. (more) PTI Cor ESBRG01291353