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Assam's terrorised tea estates prefer to buy peace

Nitin Gogoi in Guwahati

For Assam's Rs 30 billion tea industry, the relentless fall in prices at auctions and the constantly increasing input costs are the least of its problems. Looming large over the northeastern state's tea plantations is also the threat from militant groups, who constantly resort to blackmail and extortion.

Separatist rebels and insurgent outfits kidnapped at least 13 planters in South Assam's Cachar region in the past year alone. All of them were released after being detained for a while. But liberty came at a heavy price. Ransom for release has become the byword in the cool, picturesque climes of Assam. Quick retribution, at times even death, awaits those who are imprudent enough to defy.

The banned United Liberation Front of Asom, ULFA, has resumed its 'collection' drive in right earnest in Upper Assam's five tea growing districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sibsagar, Jorhat and Golaghat.

Further north on the banks of the Brahmaputra, two Bodo outfits -- National Democratic Front of Bodoland, NDFB, and Bodoland Liberation Tiger Force, or BLTF -- too impose annual 'taxes' on plantations.

"Now, tea companies have developed a system of keeping militants happy. They either pay an annual 'toll' or help the militants in kind," a senior police official says.

Despite the 13 kidnappings in 1999, Robin Barthakur, secretary of the Assam branch of the Indian Tea Association, or ABITA, says the year was 'relatively peaceful'. "However, panic has gripped tea estates ever since the new year began as militants have raised their demands," he says.

Barthakur, however, denied any knowledge of payments having made to militants.

During the last fortnight alone, ULFA guerrillas are said to have served extortion notices on more than 20 tea companies in Upper Assam's Golaghat district.

A few aggrieved tea companies did approach the police for protection, but the response they received was lukewarm, claim industry sources.

A planter was recently told to pay up Rs 500,000 through a messenger, with the warning not to disclose anything to the cops, they say.

Sources claim that at least 20 of the district's 70-odd tea gardens have been given such threats and many tea executives are inclined to flee these gardens.

With pressure being brought to bear upon them by their executives, the tea companies may agree to pay the militants to buy peace.

A photocopy of one such demand note with rediff.com reveals that the 'demand notices' have been signed by Aroon Deka, central committee member of the United Liberation Front of Asom.

The letter, printed in Assamese, bears the legend: 'If you approach the administration or reveal anything to others, our outfit will not be responsible for any serious consequences.'

"Surprising as it may sound, actually a few police officers approached the planters for negotiations on behalf of the rebels. At least, in one case the deal was finalised," said a planter preferring anonymity.

"I don't know whether the negotiations took place with genuine ULFA rebels or fake ones, but money was paid to somebody in the presence of a police officer. This cop claims to have cordial relations with ULFA because of his active contribution during the Assam agitation," he said.

He, however, refused to disclose the name of the police official.

Tribal guerrillas of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland are also active in the area bordering Nagaland. But this fresh spurt in the number of extortion notices being sent by United Liberation Front of Asom has created panic among the planters who feel the only way out is to give in to the demands.

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Assam tea planters reel under ULFA's reign of extortions

Assam police deny bias in targetting Tatas; question others

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