The peace holds (The 2008 bomb blasts and penalties)

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 The peace holds (The 2008 bomb blasts and penalties)

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• The 2008 bombings : Militants from a faction of the NDFB (National Democratic Front of Bodoland) had bombed nine locations in Assam on 30-10-2008, causing 88 deaths (53 in Guwahati). The penalty was announced by the Court recently.
• Rarest of the Rare : This is surely a "rarest of the rare case" but the final verdict (by the District & Sessions Court for the CBI case) sentenced 10 terrorists to life imprisonment, and limited terms to others. No death sentence was given.
• Assam on the edge : This verdict came right when the chaos caused by the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 is at its peak. A death sentence could have sparked violence once more!
• Present situation : The NDFB and other groups have mostly given up arms, and joined political processes. What do they want? Some want to secede, and want a Bodoland made out of Assam.
• Violent phase : The 1980s and '90s were violent, but with the creation of Bodoland Territorial Council in 2003, it slowed down. Many militants of Bodoland People's Front have given up violence, and worked with both Congress (I) and now the BJP.
• Is Bodoland possible? Although the BJP supports smaller states, this seems tough for now. Since 70% of population in any Bodoland Territorial Area is non-Bodos, any such claim is difficult.
• A new constitution amendment Bill : The government now wants to bring 10 autonomous district councils under the purview of Central Finance Commission. It just may work.
• Summary : The Bodoland movement that has subsided for the moment, may have witnessed a flash had the 2008 bombing accused been granted a death sentence.

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