Ulfa ready to announce ceasefire

GUWAHATI: The Arabinda Rajkhowa-led pro-talks faction of Ulfa is set to declare ceasefire formally to pave the way for peace talks with the Centre.

"Our general council has decided to declare ceasefire either by the end of this month or the first week of July,'' Ulfa deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, who's with the Rajkhowa faction, said on Sunday.

A senior police official involved in the peace process with Ulfa confirmed the announcement. ``The ceasefire declaration by Ulfa is expected soon after some formalities are completed. This will be followed by signing of the suspension of operation between the government and Ulfa. This may happen either in the third or fourth week of July. The ceasefire ground rules will be finalized at the same time,'' he said.

The official said once Ulfa signs the suspension of operation, it has to deposit all weapons in its possession. ``So far, there has not been any problem in carrying forward the peace process with the Ulfa's pro-talks faction, led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa. Its members have managed to keep their weapons in control. Besides, there has not been any report of misuse of arms by them,'' he said.

On Saturday, Ulfa's pro-talks faction spokesman, Mrinal Hazarika, had told TOI that they would not lay down arms. However, Hazarika had made it clear that Ulfa had no problem in declaring a formal ceasefire and sign the suspension of operation.

There has been an informal suspension of operation against Ulfa ever since Rajkhowa and his top aides, including Raju Baruah, were held in Bangladesh and brought to India in 2009.

In February this year, an eight-member Ulfa delegation, led by Rajkhowa, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chidambaram and home secretary G K Pillai and began the process of dialogue after three decades of insurgency. Though Rajkhowa and several top leaders of Ulfa favour a negotiated settlement, the elusive military boss of the outfit, Paresh Baruah, is still opposing the peace process.