The insurgent organization ULFA was formally disbanded on Tuesday, marking the end of its 44-year existence since its formation to achieve "sovereign Assam." This occurred shortly after the group signed a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) with the government.

The resolution was reached during the final general meeting of the organization, which took place in Sipajhar, approximately 55 km away from Guwahati. This decision was made twenty-five days after ULFA entered into a tripartite memorandum of settlement in New Delhi on December 29, involving the Centre and the Assam government.

Regarding the dissolution of the outfit, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said, “The decision to disband and dissolve the outfit was taken at the meeting today as stipulated by the settlement signed in Delhi. With this, the cases of sedition on the outfit will be lifted.” 

The pro-talk faction of ULFA has around 700 total members. The anti-talks faction of the outfit, ULFA-Independent (ULFA-I) has camps in Myanmar and parts of the northeast. They have around 200 members and are opposed to any settlement till Assam’s sovereignty is discussed.

This agreement held great significance, considering that the proscribed ULFA-Independent had been the sole prominent insurgent group in the state following the accord signed by the ULFA pro-talks faction with the Centre and the Assam government. The ULFA (Independent), led by Commander in Chief Paresh Baruah, continues to stay outside the peace agreement. Except for Baruah, all other original members of ULFA have abandoned the armed struggle.

The agreement covered a wide range of subjects, including politics, land rights, NRC and immigration, employment, economy and skill development, flood control, industries, agriculture, education, culture, sports infrastructure, tourism, demands of ST status, Act East Policy, and settlement of ULFA cadres who have returned to the mainstream.

Image source: Ulfa