Scores of former KLO rebels threaten to rejoin outfit if not provided government job

Jalpaiguri: Upping the ante, scores of former Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) rebels, including women have threatened to rejoin the underground outfit if they were not provided with government jobs as promised by the district administrations during their surrender ceremony at different times to the north Bengal authorities.

The KLO, an underground outfit based in north Bengal and border districts of Assam, has been demanding separate Kamtapur for the ethnic Rajbongshi community.

Scores of former rebels, both men and women, under the banner of KLO Linkman Mohila (Nari) Mancha Samonnoy Committee, after a rally here on Monday submitted a memorandum demanding permanent government job or else they have only one option to rejoin the rebel outfit.

They marched with the memorandum and held placards from PWD More, the hub of Jalpaiguri district, to the SP office, which was barricaded by the armed forces.

The former rebels said although some 250 people, who laid their arm to the authorities at different times, were given jobs, but the majority of some 450 people have not been provided with any job so far.
"We have been requesting the district administration time to time for a permanent government job but nothing has been arranged for us," said one of the former rebels.

They also alleged that despite the authorities had promised to provide government job as well withdraw cases against them, but nothing was fulfilled and instead, they were facing harassment. (UNI)