Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has reiterated his appeal to the anti-talk faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), led by elusive ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah to join the ‘peace process’. He also warned that those who still believed in violence “would be dealt strictly”.
He said the doors for talks were open for all militant organisations which wanted to join the ‘peace process’ and the government would welcome the anti-talk faction of Ulfa too.
North-East on Tuesday saw one of the biggest surrenders by militants in Guwahati in presence of Union home minister P Chidambaram. Around 700 militants from seven militant outfits laid down their arms on Tuesday. Two other militant organisations, which participated at the event, however, just submitted charter-of-demands. More than 200 weapons and arms were surrendered by the militants on Tuesday.
The nine militant outfits include Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), United Kukigram Defence Army (UKDA), Hmar People's Convention (HPC), Santhal Tiger Force (STF), All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) and Adivasi People's Army (APA), Birsa Commando Force (BCF) and Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam (ACMA). These militant groups were already under ceasefire agreement with the Centre for past many years.
“Our doors are open for all militant ogranisations which want to join the peace process. But, those who still believe in violence would be dealt strictly,” Gogoi said while terming the mass surrender as “historic”. He added that the ‘peace process’ was moving in the right direction and that he expects more militant outfits to lay down arms in coming days.
Stating that surrenderd militants had right to live life with “honour and dignity”, Chidambaram said the government would try to get these surrendered militants “back to the fold”.
A peace talk by the Centre with the pro-talk faction of Ulfa, under the leadership of its ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, is presently underway.