Assam villagers seek help of pro-talks rebels for voting

GUWAHATI: Living mostly along forested areas bordering Arunachal Pradesh, 50,000-odd people from 539 villages in Assam's Sonitpur and Biswanath districts have sought the help of pro-talks militants and student bodies for exercising their franchise in the coming panchayat elections for the first time.

Predominantly Bodos, these people have elected their representatives in successive general and assembly elections but have never voted in the rural polls as the state government is yet to bring these families under gram panchayats. Hardly any development work has been done in these villages for the same reason. Left in the lurch for long, they finally decided to take the help of pro-talk militants.

Responding to their plea, the pro-talks National Democratic Front of Boroland (Progressive), All Bodo Students' Union (Absu) and People's Joint Action Committee for Bodoland Movement (PJACBM) have taken up the cudgels to fight for the democratic rights of these people in the panchayat elections.

Kamal Kumar Mushahary, a resident of Daimuguri village in Sonitpur, said development is still a far cry due to non-establishment of panchayati raj system in his hamlet.