On December 6, 2003, 2641 cadres of the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) renounced violence and surrendered along with arms and ammunition at Kokrajhar, marking an end to seven years of insurgency. On the following day, an interim 12-member executive council of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) was formed in Kokrajhar.
A Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) for the creation of the BTC was reached at a tripartite meeting held in New Delhi on February 10, 2003, between the representatives of Union Government, Assam Government and a BLT delegation. The main provisions of the MoS relate 'to creation of the BTC, an autonomous self governing body within the State of Assam and under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India to fulfill economic, educational and linguistic aspirations, socio-cultural and ethnic identity of the Bodos; and to speed up the infrastructure development in BTC area.' The BTC would comprise 3,082 villages in four districts--Kokrajhar and the three yet to be created - Chirang, Udalguri and Baska. The BTC would have 40 elected representatives and the Assam Government would nominate six more. Of the elected representatives, 30 seats would be reserved for tribals, five for non-tribals and the remaining five would be open for general contest.
The BLT, prior to its en-masse surrender, had been observing a cease-fire with the Government since July 14, 1999. This cease-fire was formally agreed to in March 2000 and subsequently at the January 20, 2003, tripartite meeting was extended till February 21, 2003.
Formation
The BLT (also known as the Bodo Liberation Tiger Force or BLTF) was established on June 18, 1996, under the leadership of Prem Singh Brahma.
Objectives
BLT's projects its major objectives as:
Leadership
Hagrama Basumatary is the 'chairman-cum-commander-in-chief' of BLT. In the interim BTC, Basumatary is the Chief Executive Member. Other important leaders of the BLT include Kamal Mushahray alias Chandran Narzari, 'vice-chairman' (Vice-Executive Member of the interim BTC); and Mainao Daimary, 'publicity secretary' (Member of the interim BTC) and the 'secretary general' Derhasat Basumatary (Member of the interim BTC).
Areas of Operation
The Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari and Darrang districts of Assam constituted the area of operation for the BLT.
Linkages
The BLT, prior to its peace parleys with the Government, is reported to have maintained few hideouts in Bhutan.