ULFA ceasefire group gives up sovereignty issue

TINSUKIA: A ceasefire-abiding group of the banned ULFA on THursday said that they were no longer a part of the banned outfit and had given up the issue of sovereignty.

"We have given up the issue of sovereignty as a condition for talks, but we are in favour of total autonomy for Assam," said the spokesman of the ceasefire group Mrinal Hazarika.

Hazarika told reporters here that they have also come out of ULFA and would henceforth be known as 'pro-talk group' or 'ULFA discussion group'.

Two companies 'a' and 'c' of ULFA's dreaded 28 Battalion had declared unilateral ceasefire in June last and were in favour of holding talks with the government in finding a negotiated solution to Assam's problems.

Hazarika, further, said in the new year the group would strive hard for talks to find a peaceful solution at the earliest.