Assam: The Centre government and the Assam government signed a peace pact with pro-talks faction of ULFA on Friday.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The Central government had been holding unconditional negotiations with the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led faction for over 12 years.
However, the hardline faction of the ULFA headed by Paresh Baruah is not part of the agreement. Baruah is believed to be residing at a place along the China-Myanmar border.
Notably, the ULFA was formed in 1979 with the demand for a "sovereign Assam". Since then, it has been involved in subversive activities that led to the central government declaring it a banned outfit in 1990.
The Rajkhowa faction joined peace talks with the government on September 3, 2011.
