Historic Karbi peace agreement inked; over 1000 militant to surrender

Around 1000 militants are expected to lay down their weapons after the central government inked a landmark peace accord with at least six insurgent groups active within the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council region.

The peace pact was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

The outfits that signed the agreement on Saturday include the People's Democratic Council of Karbi Longri, Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front, United People's Liberation Army and three factions of Karbi People's Liberation Tiger.

The Union Home Minister, which comes a year after the BJP-led central and Assam government signed the Bodo Peace Accord to end the long-run violence in Bodoland, said that the latest agreement will be written in golden words in the history of the Karbi region and Assam. 

Stating that the Narendra Modi government was committed to resolving the decades-old crisis and ensuring the territorial integrity of Assam, Amit Shah said that the Centre had completed 80 per cent of the commitments it had made in the previous three agreements and almost 100 per cent of Bodoland. 

The agreement will end hostilities between the Karbi rebel groups and Assam. The insurgency, which started in the 1980s, was marked by kidnappings, killings and ethnic violence. 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to say, "Signing of this tripartite agreement marks the end of the decades-old crisis and ensures territorial integrity of Assam. I thank all stakeholders, especially Karbi ethnic groups, for having come together to ensure this momentous decision. I am happy & grateful to all."

After the signing, Pradip Terang of Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front said that the pact will fulfil 90-95 per cent of their demands for Karbi Anglong and lead them towards development.

The Union Home Minister further said that the Assam government will spend around Rs 1000 crore for the development of the Karbi region over the next five years. 

• Amit Shah
• Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Karbi Anglong
• Karbi peace agreement
• Sarbananda Sonowal
• Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council
• militancy
• surrender
• northeast
• Assam