Pro-talks ULFA faction signs peace deal with Centre, Assam

The Centre, the Assam government and a faction of the separatist organisation United Liberation Front of Asom signed a tripartite peace accord in Delhi on Friday, taking a step towards ending decades-old insurgency in the northeastern state.

With the deal, the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led faction of the organisation has agreed to shun violence.

The United Liberation Front of Asom was banned in India in 1990 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967. Since 1979, the group has sought to create a sovereign nation of Assam for the indigenous Assamese people by means of an armed struggle.

The hardline faction of the organisation led by Paresh Baruah is not a party to the peace deal.

ULFA the oldest insurgent group of Assam agreed to abjure the path of violence. Speaking on the signing of a memorandum of settlement with ULFA.
https://t.co/6H1DIHmmHy— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 29, 2023

“We want to assure the ULFA leadership that their trust in the Centre to ensure the success of the peace process will be honoured,” Shah said to reporters on Friday.

The peace deal is aimed at addressing issues such as illegal immigration, land rights for indigenous communities, and a financial package for Assam’s development, reported NDTV.

Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and several leaders of the separatist organisation...

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