By : Hantigiri Narzary
Kokrajhar (Assam),Jan 17: After stepping into Indian soil, few days ago from Myanmar,the Saoraigwra faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland(NDFB-S) has finally agreed to shun violence and come forward for peace talk.
The Saoraigwra faction of the NDFB led its chief B Saoraigwra signed a tripartite suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with centre in New Delhi on Thursday evening that has been well received by people from the entire region irrespective of organisation and communities .
With the signing of the agreement , the NDFB(S) has also become a signatory to the proposed comprehensive Memorandum of Settlement with the Bodo organisations.
The BJP led NDA government has been initiating to bring a permanent solution to the NDFB as well Bodo issue through the political dialogue. Accordingly a tripartite agreement of SoO was signed in between representatives of centre,state and NDFB-S leaders.
“Towards bringing a healthy peace and integration in the region, the Government of India, Government of Assam and NDFB entered into a tripartite Soo agreement on January 16, 2020,” the agreement read.
During the agreement,Ashutosh Agnihotri, commissioner & secretary, home & political, government of Assam; Satyendra Garg, joint secretary (Northeast), ministry of home affairs, and B.Saoraigwra, president, NDFB(S) signed the agreement the tripartite agreement tp pave a way for the peace process.
The formal agreement signing event was also attended by BR Ferrenga, general secretary of NDFB(S) and two mediators Rajkumar Prithviraj Narayan Dev Mech and Thulunga Basumatary.
Rajkumar Prithviraj Narayan Dev Mech and Thulunga Basumatary belongs to the Northeast Heritage Foundation(NHF),a social organisation.
According to a source from ministry of home affairs, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) is now working on a draft of the peace agreement, involving all factions of the NDFB militant outfit .
Earlier, it was reported that a group of nearly 50 members of the Saoraigwra faction of the NDFB had reached Assam leaving their camp in Myanmar. However, official sources said that around 27 members of the NDFB (S) have come over to India after they were given a free-passage through the Mon district in Nagaland.
DGP Assam , BJ Mahanta said more hardcore leaders may soon join them .
All the NDFB (S) members and their families are now in safe custody of police in Lower Assam.
The Saoraigwra faction is the third group of NDFB to initiate peace talks with New Delhi.
Earlier in 2005, the NDFB (Progressive) faction signed a ceasefire agreement with New Delhi.
Over 3,000 members of NDFB (P) are currently housed in three government-approved designated ceasefire camps in Udalguri, Baksa, and Kokrajhar districts of Assam.
