Ex-KLO men seek Sixth Schedule

TT, Jalpaiguri, Aug. 16: A group of former KLO militants has demanded that the Centre and the state government use Sixth Schedule status as a tool for development of Rajbangshi population of north Bengal.

Joydeb Roy alias Tom Adhikary, a former KLO militant, who attended the Independence Day celebrations at Fataktari village in Dhupguri yesterday, said: "We feel the state and central governments should focus on the socio-economic development of Rajbangshis. Several people of our community are living in poverty. The state has announced formation of a development board for us and is taking steps to recognise the Rajbangshi language. But we feel that it should, along with the Centre, find out whether Sixth Schedule can be used as a tool to expedite the development."

Another former KLO militant said they were doing odd jobs to run their families: "Most of us are unemployed and are doing odd jobs to run our families. We hope the state government will take some initiative to provide employment or some financial assistance to us so that we can become self-dependant."

The proscribed militant outfit was formed by a section of Rajbangshi youths with the demand of separate Kamtapur state in 1996. Most of its members are into mainstream now, particularly after the 'Operation Flushout' by the Royal Bhutan Army in 2003.