Assam directed to settle BTC boundary tangle

NEW DELHI, Dec 19 — The Ministry of Home Affairs today directed the Assam government to immediately settle the tangle over the demarcation of the boundary of the proposed Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). The MHA directive came in a tripartite meeting on the Bodo issue held here this evening. Official sources said that though the Assam government sought time till January 10 to finalise the boundary of the BTC. The MHA directed that the issue should be settled within this month. Sources said that the boundary of the proposed BTC is the only point left to be settled and all other points have already been settled for a solution to the Bodo problem. Another round of tripartite meeting will be held after demarcation of the boundary for preparing the draft accord to be signed between the Government and the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT). Meanwhile, official sources said that there was some confusion over the cease-fire agreement between the Central Government and the BLT and after proper study today, it was found that the agreement would expire only on January 21. The BLT leaders are likely to meet Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is in New Delhi, tomorrow.