ULFA, one of India's oldest insurgent groups, signs peace accord with central govt

A faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Friday (Dec 29) signed a peace accord with the governmentof the northeast Indian state of Assam and India's federal government. They agreed toshun violence, disband the organisation and join democratic process in the country. ULFA is the oldest insurgent group operating in Assam.

The hardline faction of ULFA however, is not part of the current agreement. This faction is led by Paresh Baruah who is believed to be residing somewhere along China-Myanmar border.

India's Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were present at the signing of the accord, after which Shah said this was a big day for people of Assam.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

“Assam has suffered for long due to the violence of the ULFA and 10,000 people lost their lives in this violence since 1979,”said the home minister.

Shah said every clause of the pact will be implemented fully, andadded that a big development package will be announced for Assam asmentioned in the accord.

The home minister further said that violence in Assam has come down by 87 per cent, death toll has reduced by 90 per cent and cases of kidnappings have gone down by 84 per cent.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the accord "historic".

Officials said the accord has come through after 12 years of unconditional negotiations between theinsurgent group led by Arabinda Rajkhowaand the government.

The peace pact is expected to resolve the menace of decades-old insurgency in Assam.

ULFA was formed in 1979 to demand a “sovereign Assam”.

The insurgent activities led to Indian government declaring it a banned outfit in 1990.

The Rajkhowa faction began peace talks with government on September 3, 2011 following which an agreementfor Suspension of Operations (SoO) was signed between the ULFA, Centre and state governments.

(With inputs from agencies)