Asom Sanmilita Mahasangha dharna today

Correspondent

JAGIROAD, Jan 10 – The Asom Sanmilita Mahasangha, which has been struggling for fulfilment of the interests and aspirations of the indigenous people of the State, announced its third phase of agitational programme at a press conference here.

Held in the office of the Autonomy Demand Struggling Forum at Jagiroad, the working president and additional working president of the organisation, Matiur Rahman and Tulsi Bordoloi respectively, announced that the Mahasangha has called for a sit-in demonstration (dharna) on January 11 from 10 am to 2 pm at Dispur to press upon the government to solve a charter of demands which includes: Signing of a repatriation agreement with the Bangladesh government for convenience of sending back the Bangladeshi nationals to the neighbouring country who have infiltrated into Assam illegally, order of shoot at sight in the border areas for any one attempting to infiltrate illegally from across the border, setting up of concrete walls along the border in place of barbed wire fence, tightening of security and round the clock vigil in the diffferent terrains and water bodies by both Navy and armed forces in the border areas, setting up of a special force for the purpose of border-vigil by employing indigenous youths from the North-east, adoption of repatriation deal with Bangladesh government for preventing mushtrooming of illigal activities in the region including smuggling, fundementalism, extremism, trafficking of human organs and drugs abuse.

During the press conference, the office bearers of the Mahasangha expressed serious worries over the fact that the unhindered infiltration of Bangladeshis into Assam has brought about many complex situations in the State including violent activities by the fundementalists from across the border and extremism. Those who try to rip apart peace in the region must be dealt with if necessary by combating their activities militarily, they said.

The Mahasangha has submitted a memorandum to the President Pratibha Devi Sing Patil through the DC, Kamrup (Metro) besides two such separate petitions to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and the Home Minister, P Chidambaram.

At the press conference, the office bearers of the Mahasangha also made known various other demands raised by the body.

Others who attended the press conference included joint secretary, Robert Lumphoi, organising secretary, Surendranath Deka, and executive member Bhupen Kholar, among others. ASSAM TRIBUNE