The Central government on Saturday signed the ‘Karbi Peace Accord’ in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and representatives of several armed groups in New Delhi.
The accord is significant as the insurgency by Karbi – a major ethnic community of Assam – groups, dotted by several factions and splinters, has had a long history in Assam, marked by killings, ethnic violence, abductions and taxation since the late 1980s.
After the accord was signed, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Karbi Anglong Agreement will be written in golden words in the history of Karbi region and Assam.”
“Today, around 1000 cadres of more than 5 organizations have joined the mainstream, shunning arms. Central & Assam Govts are fully committed to their rehabilitation,” he confirmed.
He went on to add that the Assam Govt will spend around Rs 1,000 crore for the development of Karbi region in 5 years. It is the policy of Narendra Modi Govt that we fulfill all the promises made in an agreement during our tenure itself.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “1,000 militants will surrender under this agreement and lots of arms will be deposited. Peace will be restored. It is a very big achievement.”
We will work for the rehabilitation of 1000 militants who will be surrendering with over 300 sophisticated arms. They will be given reservation in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, for the first time,” he added.
A total of 1,040 Karbi militants of five insurgent groups of Karbi Anglong district ceremonially laid down arms at an event in Guwahati on February 25 in the presence of then Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Among the surrendered militants was Ingti Kathar Songbijit, a primary accused in multiple cases of militancy and ethnic violence in the state.
The surrendered militants belong to Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK), United Peoples Liberation Army (UPLA) and Kuki Liberation Front (KLF).
They submitted a total of 338 weapons, including 8 light machine guns with 11,203 bullets, 11 M-16 rifles and 58 AK-47 rifles
