GUWAHATI: 1500 rebels from National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) faction surrendered in Arms Laying Down Ceremony held at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) Auditorium today. Assam Minister, Govt of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma; Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal, as well as various police officials, present during the event welcomed the move.
"Glad to announce the #ArmsLayingCeremony by members of the #NDFB groups today at Guwahati. The historic #BodoPeaceAccord heralds a new era of peace in Assam. The path laid down by Hon PM Sri @narendramodi and HM Sri @AmitShah on prosperity of NE gets a shot in the arm," Sarma tweeted from his account.
Sarma in his address welcomed the move and expressed condolences to those who lost their lives in Bodo agitation.
He also thanked members of the police and armed forces who lost their lives while fighting the iinsurgency.
Sarma insisted that rehabilitation of the cadres will be a priority so that they can be mainstreamed within society.
Sarma thanked Home Minister Amit Shah for his continuous support.
Sarma also appealed to (ULFA-I) commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah & United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) to enter into a meaningful peace dialogue with both the Government of Assam and Government of India, ending decade-old militant movement in the state.
On Monday, the historic Bodo peace accord signed between the Centre, the Assam government and Bodo stakeholders (NDFB and its factions) saw the announcement of various measures to ensure the territorial and cultural integrity of the region. Several institutes will be set up to bring growth and development to the region.
The move is expected to boost peace in the Northeast.
The pact provides political and economic bonanza to the tribals, sans the outfit’s key demand of a separate Bodoland state or union territory.
This is the third Bodo accord to be signed in the last 27 years when the violent movement for a separate Bodoland State claimed hundreds of lives, destruction of public and private properties.
The first Bodo accord was signed with the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) in 1993, leading to the creation of a Bodoland Autonomous Council with limited political powers.
In 2003, the second Bodo accord was signed with the militant group Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), leading to the formation of a Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) with four districts of Assam — Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska and Udalguri — called the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD).
Also Read: Historic Bodo Peace Accord: Several packages announced to boost development of the region