Armed Terai groups meet in India's Bihar to discuss possible alliance

Leaders of over a dozen armed outfits operating in the Terai plains have met in the bordering Indian state of Bihar in a bid to forge an alliance which, if materialised, might spell intensification of violence in the region.

According to Naya Patrika daily, leaders of 14 armed groups including Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) of Jaya Krishna Goit, Madhesi Tigers, Terai Madhesh Mukti Tigers, Terai Liberation Force and Terai Cobra are participating in the meeting that began from Friday evening. The meeting was finalised after a long homework.

However, JTMM's breakaway faction, which is led by Jwala Singh and goes by the same name, is not participating in the meeting.

The daily quoted JTMM general secretary Bibas Bidhrohi as claiming that the 14 armed groups would try to unite under a single organisation. Their aim is to form a strong organisation under the leadership of Goit and intensify their activities in Terai.

One Chandrashekhar, who heads the 'unification coordination committee', said the 14 organisations would try to reach a decision on unification within five days.

The meeting of underground Terai groups comes at a time when the ministers of the new cabinet have repeatedly said that the government is ready to negotiate with them if they shun violence. nepalenws.com mk Sept 28 08