Govt signs peace pact with key ULFA faction

The Centre, the Assam government, and a key faction of Assam's oldest insurgent group signed a tripartite peace agreement on Friday, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah describing the pact as a watershed that will end decades of violence in the restive northeastern state and usher in a new era of prosperity.

- Neeraj Chauhan, Utpal Parashar

The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), led by Arabinda Rajkhowa, signed the accord, agreeing to shun violence, disband the organization, and join the democratic process. Shah, who was present along with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, said it was a very big day for the people of Assam.

"It's a new era of peace for Assam and the entire northeast. With this agreement, ULFA cadres will give up arms, vacate their camps, and join the mainstream to be part of the democratic process," Shah said The hardline Paresh Baruah faction of the ULFA was not part of the agreement.

The pro-talks faction has 726 members as opposed to some 200 members of the extremist faction, according to police officials familiar with the matter.

The home minister said the pact was possible due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's broader policy of bringing Delhi and the North-East together and develop the region.

"In Assam alone, there are 87% less incidents of violence, 90% less deaths while 7,500 cadres have surrendered. Today, 700 more cadres (of ULFA) will give up arms, taking total surrenders in Assam up to 8,200," Shah said.

Sarma said an Indian Institute of Management (IIM), new railway lines, and more national highways worth around 1.5 lakh crore were part of the deal, and that outsiders cannot procure land within a 5km radius of iconic structures in the state.

"Except one person (Paresh Baruah) who is leading the antitalks faction of ULFA, all the founding members of the outfit were here in Delhi today... They have assured us that ULFA will be disbanded, they will leave the designated camps where they were staying (after coming forward for talks in 2011), they will deposit their arms and 726 cadres will join the mainstream," he added.