Why in news?
The central government has extended the ban on the Assam-based insurgent group National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) by 5 more years.
Why is the ban?
- The ban was for its involvement in a series of violent activities including killings and extortion, and for joining hands with anti-India forces.
- The Home Ministry has declared the NDFB along with all its groups, factions, and front organisations as an “unlawful association.”
- It is enforced under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Who are the Bodos?
- Bodos are the single largest tribal community in Assam.
- They make up over 5-6% of the state’s population.
- They have controlled large parts of Assam in the past.
- The four districts in Assam - Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang - are home to several ethnic groups.
- These constitute the Bodo Territorial Area District (BTAD).
What is the Bodoland dispute?
- The Bodos have had a long history of separatist demands, marked by armed struggle.
- In 1966-67, the demand for a separate state called Bodoland came up.
- It was raised under the banner of the Plains Tribals Council of Assam (PTCA), a political outfit.
- In 1987, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) renewed the demand.
- The unrest was a fallout of the Assam Movement (1979-85).
- The Movement’s culmination with the Assam Accord addressed the demands of protection and safeguards for the “Assamese people”.
- This led the Bodos to launch a movement to protect their own identity.
- In the 2012 Bodo-Muslim riots, hundreds were killed and almost 5 lakh were displaced.
- In December 2014, separatists killed more than 30 people in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur.
Who are the NDFB?
- Alongside political movements, armed groups have also sought to create a separate Bodo state.
- In 1986, the prominent group Bodo Security Force (BdSF) was formed by Ranjan Daimary.
- The BdSF subsequently renamed itself as the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
- NDFB is known to be involved in attacks, killings, and extortions.
- In the 1990s, Indian security forces launched extensive operations against the group, causing the latter to flee to bordering Bhutan.
- In Bhutan, the group faced stiff counter-insurgency operations by the Indian Army and the Royal Bhutan Army in the early 2000s.
- NDFB had broken into many factions that are involved in many violent activities.
- These include the 2008 bomb attacks in Assam, killing of 66 Adivasis in Assam in 2014.
- Amidst these, peace talks are on with the government.
Source: Indian Express
