HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, July 6: Making a giant leap towards strengthening peace, five Advasi extremist groups of Assam along with three factions laid down their arms before chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at a programme held at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra here on Thursday.
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The extremist groups that laid down their arms are ACMA (Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam) and ACMA factional group, AANLA (All Adivasi National Liberation Army) and AANLA factional group, BCF (Bircha Commando Force) and BCF factional group, APA (Adivasi People’s Army) and STF (Santhal Tiger Force).
Altogether 1,182 cadres of the eight groups laid down their arms which included 304 sophisticated arms and 1,460 rounds of ammunition.
It may be noted that these Adivasi extremist organizations surrendered before the government on January 24, 2012 and later on signed the agreement of Suspension of Operation (SoO) on October 4, 2016.
Since the signing of the SoO agreement, several rounds of talks have taken place between these groups and the government. Subsequently on September 15, 2022, the Adivasi Accord was signed between these groups and the government of India and government of Assam.
After signing of the Adivasi Accord and in pursuance of Clause 3 of the Accord, on May 22, 2023, the government of Assam constituted a 16 member Adivasi Welfare and Development Council.
On Thursday, along with the arms laying down ceremony, the members of the Council led by its chairman Ashim Hasda took oath, as secretary, Tribal Affairs (Plain), Social Justice and Empowerment Binita Pegu administered the oath in front of the chief minister.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that the government’s efforts of bringing all disgruntled elements to the peace process has yielded dividends as eight Adivasi extremist groups laid down their arms to come to the mainstream of the society.
The chief minister on the occasion also appealed to ULFA (I) for talks. He said, “In Assam when all the militant groups have come over ground, ULFA should also come for talks in the interest of all sections of the people of the state.”
Sarma also thanked Union home minister Amit Shah on the occasion. He said it was because of the keen interest of the Union home minister in peace and development of Assam and other North Eastern states, the region is witnessing unprecedented development.
The chief minister on the occasion for the rehabilitation announced Rs 4 lakh each for all the cadres. The amount will be fixed deposited, as the cadres will be able to take loan upto Rs 3 lakh against the fixed deposit amount.
He also said that the government will also give Rs 6 thousand monthly to each of the cadres for three years to help them towards self-employment.
He also asked them not to be carried away by any external stimulus and refrain from taking arms in their hands again. He on the occasion also paid his deep tributes to those personalities who lost their lives during the armed struggle of the Adivasis.
He said that for the development of the Tea community and Adivasis government has set up 119 model schools.
