ULFA signs peace pact with govt; promises no more violence

NEW DELHI: In its effort to bring lasting peace in Assam, the government today signed an agreement with the banned ULFA to end violence in the troubled northeastern state and set the ball rolling for peace talks.

The Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact, signed by the representatives of central and Assam governments and ULFA, will ensure that the outfit will not carry out any subversive activities till finding a political solution to the vexed insurgency problem while the security forces will also not take any action against the ULFA cadres.

"We had a very good round of talks. The SoO agreement was signed. The first round spells out the road to political dialogue. It is the harbinger of future talks," Joint Secretary (Northeast) in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shambhu Singh told reporters here.

The SoO pact will continue during the political talks and till a final agreement is signed.

The meeting deliberated in detail on various aspects of the ground rules of the SoO and how to maintain peace in Assam.

Members of the rebel group -- numbering around 600 -- will be put in special camps which will be called as 'nabanirman kendras'.

Asked whether ULFA cadres will surrender all arms and ammunition, the outfit's 'foreign secretary' Sashadhar Choudhury shot back saying, "why should we? This is not a final agreement."

"This is a gentleman's agreement. We will see how the parleys go forward," Choudhury said.