A CMO press release said a total of 1,182 cadres in eight teams laid down their weapons, including 304 sophisticated weapons and 1,460 rounds of ammunition.
Release date – Friday 23 July 06:00
Guwahati: A total of eight extremist groups in the state of Assam laid down their weapons in front of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during an event in the Assam state capital Guwahati on Thursday, in an event to strengthen peace another leap forward.
Extremist organizations that laid down their arms include ACMA (Assam Aboriginal Cobra Army) and ACMA faction groups, AANLA (All Aboriginal National Liberation Army) and AANLA faction groups, BCF (Bircha Commando Force) and BCF faction groups, APA (Aboriginal Peoples PLA) and BCF faction groups. Army) and STF (Santhal Tiger Force).
A total of 1,182 cadres in eight groups laid down their weapons, including 304 advanced weapons and 1,460 rounds of ammunition, a CMO press release said.
Notably, these extremist groups surrendered to the government on January 24, 2012 and signed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement on October 4, 2016.
Since the SO agreement was signed, there have been multiple rounds of negotiations between these groups and the government. Subsequently, on 15 September 2022, the groups signed the Aboriginal Agreement with the Union and State governments.
After the signing of the Aboriginal Agreement, on May 22, 2023, the state government formed the Aboriginal Welfare and Development Committee consisting of 16 members. Council members led by Chairman Ashim Hasda took the oath in a ceremony today in which they laid down their arms, and Binita Pegu, Secretary for Tribal Affairs (Plains), Social Justice and Empowerment, presided over the oath in the presence of the Chief Minister.
Chief Minister Sarma said: “Our efforts to bring all the disaffected into the peace process have borne fruit with eight indigenous extremist groups laying down their arms and assimilating into the mainstream of society. This is about strengthening peace in Assam and leading all An important day to move forward together as a nation.”
The Chief Minister also called on ULFA(I) for talks at the time.
“In Assam, when all militant groups are here, ULFA should also negotiate for the benefit of all classes of people in the state,” Sarma added.
The Chief Minister announced at the time that Rs 400,000 each would be given to all cadres who laid down their arms today as part of the rehabilitation programme. This amount will be fixed deposit as cadres can apply for a loan up to Rs 3 lakh with the fixed deposit amount.
He also said the government would also provide Rs 6,000 a month to each cadre for three years to help them become self-employed. He also asked them not to be dazzled by any external stimuli and not to take up arms again.
On the occasion, he also offered his condolences to those who lost their lives in the Aboriginal armed struggle.
In his speech, the Chief Minister also stated that Assam is on a solid path of peace and development, and people from all walks of life are enjoying the fruits of development.
For the development of the tea community, the Orang Asli government has set up 119 model schools, he said. In addition, he said that various medical and nursing courses will have reserved seats.
In addition, three percent of the bookings will be earmarked for government work in the tea community and Adivasis. He also said the state government was taking steps to preserve Aboriginal culture, language and literature.
