In the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA), an insurgent group operating mostly in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, on Thursday (April 27) signed a peace agreement with the government. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and senior officers from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government of Assam were present on the occasion.
After the group signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU), the Union Home Minister said that this agreement is another significant milestone towards making North-East insurgency-free by 2024 and fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous North East.
“This agreement will put a complete end to the insurgency and with this, there are no more armed groups in Assam today,” he said adding that, “With this, all tribal militant groups in Assam have joined the mainstream.” Shah said that Prime Minister Modi has put forward the vision of a terror-free, violence-free and developed Northeast before the country and the Ministry of Home Affairs is moving forward in this direction under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi.
Over 168 cadres of DNLA joining mainstream
He said that under the agreement, the representatives of DNLA have agreed to abjure violence, surrender all arms and ammunition, disband their armed organization, vacate all camps occupied by DNLA cadres and join the peaceful democratic process as established by the law. As a result of this agreement, over 168 cadres of DNLA are joining the mainstream by laying down their arms.
The Home Minister said that today’s agreement will bring a complete end to the insurgency in the Dima Hasao District of Assam. Under the agreement, Dimasa Welfare Council will be set up by the Government of Assam to protect, preserve and promote a social, cultural and linguistic identity to meet political, economic and educational aspirations and will ensure speedy and focused development of the Dimasa people residing outside the jurisdiction of the Autonomous Council.
Assam CM on agreement
Assam CM said that except ULFA, all other problems have been solved in the state. “Agreement was signed between the extremist group Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) and the Government of Assam. Except ULFA, all other problems have been solved in the state,” he said.
