NDFB calls truce, signs pact with Centre & Assam

Guwahati | New Delhi: National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), a banned insurgent group fighting for a sovereign land for Bodo people, has signed a tripartite agreement with the central and Assam governments to suspend operations, officials said on Friday. As per the truce, the NDFB faction led by B Saoraigwra will give up violence and join peace talks with the government.

Nearly 30 active members of NDFB, including its president Saoraigwra, general secretary, commander-in-chief and finance secretary have returned from Myanmar to join the peace process. Members of the group were recently apprehended in Nagaland while trying to cross from Myanmar.

“We have signed a ceasefire agreement with them and they would join the Bodo peace process soon,” Assam director general of police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said. The group carried 25 weapons, more than 50 magazines, more than 900 assorted ammunition, and communication equipment with them. Four family members also accompanied the group.


Mahanta appealed to former NDFB leader Songbijit Ingti Kathar and its prominent members B Bidai and Batha, who are still at large, to join the peace process. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution was implemented to create the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in 2003 after a political accord with erstwhile militant outfit Bodo Liberation Tigers, leading to BLT cadres joining the political mainstream. However, NDFB under the leadership Ranjan Daimary did not give up violence.

Founded as Boro Security Force on October 3, 1986 under Daimary, the separatist outfit renamed itself as NDFB on November 25, 1994. It entered into a ceasefire with the Union government in 2005. However, Daimary continued to violate ceasefire and did not come forward for direct talks.