Bongaigaon (CBCI News): In a show of unity and solidarity Christian Leaders of various Churches visited the riot affected areas and the relief camps in the districts of Kokrajhar in Lower Assam, as part of its 'goodwill mission' to bring peace and reconciliation between the warring groups. The violent clashes between the Bodos and the Bengali speaking Muslims have already claimed 56 lives reducing over four hundred thousand homeless.

As decided on July 29 meeting, Inter Church Peace Mission  (ICPM), an umbrella organization comprising Roman Catholic (RC), Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church (NELC), Christian Revival Church and Bodo and Garo Baptist Church,  flagged off the rally at 9.00 AM from Chapaguri, near here today.

 

Bishops Thomas Pulloppillil (RC) of Bongaigaon, Bishop  Nityananda Borgoyary (NELC) and Sulen  Narzary (NELC-Bodo) led a group of over 30 leaders in  eight vehicles. They visited several relief camps in the district of Kokrajhar spreading the message of 'peace'.  They met the camp in-charges, the community leaders, the common people and even the victims. “Wounds take time to heal.  But we can resolve and strive not to repeat the past mistakes of conflicts”, said Bishop Borgoyary, the president of ICPM.

The team is scheduled to visit the camps in the district of Chirang. “Our united team of various Christian churches itself is a sign of love and peace”, asserted Bishop Pulloppillil, the ICPM vice-president. All the visits have been highlighting the importance of peace within these districts of Bodoland Territorial Areas Districts (BTAD) and the church's commitment to promote peace among all people.