Centre signs tripartite peace deal with 8 tribal outfits

In an effort to maintain peace, the Centre on 15 September has signed a tripartite peace accord with ‘eight militant tribal outfits’ of Assam in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah. Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma signed the deal on behalf of the Assam government, as per media reports.

The Union Home Minister said it was an important day for Assam and added that the development was an important step towards developing the entire northeast region. He claimed: “Around 1,100 people belonging to Adivasi outfits of Assam are surrendering arms and joining the mainstream today.”.

On the other hand, the Assam CM exuded confidence that with the signing of the agreement, an era of peace and harmony will be ushering in Assam.

According to reports, among the rebel outfits to have signed the peace deal are All Adivasi National Liberation Army, Adivasi Cobra Militant of Assam, Birsa Commando Force, Santhal Tiger Force, and Adivasi People’s Army. The outfits are currently under a ceasefire deal with the government since 2012 and living in designated camps.

Except the Paresh Baruah-led hardline faction of the banned ULFA and the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation, all other rebel groups active in the state have now entered into peace agreements with the government, according to Hindustan Times.

Earlier, the Assam CM had held a meeting with rebel Adivasi groups regarding the final settlement which is currently under a ceasefire.

Union Home Minister Shah in January 2020 also presided over the signing of a historic agreement between the Government of India, the Government of Assam and Bodo representatives in New Delhi to end the over 50-year-old Bodo crisis that has cost the region over 4,000 lives.

According to ANI, after the agreement, a total of 1,615 cadres of three National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) factions laid down their arms on January 30, 2020. Over 4,800 weapons, including AK 47 rifles, light-machine guns and stun guns, were laid down by the NDFB members on the occasion. – INDIA NEWS STREAM