New Delhi, September 23: Aiming to put an end to violence in Bodo-dominated areas in Assam, the Centre today began peace negotiations with ther outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), one of the deadliest militant groups in the Northeast. The meeting, which was participated by representatives of Central government, Assam government and NDFB, discussed the outfit”s charter of demands, including a separate state for the Bodo tribals.
“Today we began the peace talks. We hope that sooner than later, we will be able to find a solution to the NDFB”s demands,” a Home Ministry official said.
The government asked the outfit to lay down arms and put its cadres in designated camps. The NDFB had been demanding a sovereign state since its inception in the early nineties.
However, last year, it split when the moderate section, led by Govinda Basumatary, opted for peaceful negotiated settlement. They dropped the demand for sovereignty.
The hardcore faction, led by Ranjan Daimary, is still fighting a guerrilla war, leaving hundreds dead so far. Though the NDFB is in a ceasefire agreement with the government since 2005, political negotiation with the outfit could not be started all these years as the Centre objected to the outfit”s sovereignty demand.
—PTI–