Nalbari: 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.
Slained 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".
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 that 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.
As Saikia had
no permanent source of income, Ramijan had immense financial
hardship to maintain her family forcing even her student son
Nazrul to become a daily wage labourer.
However, both Ramijan and 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, 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.
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".
PTI
