Banned Assam Outfit ULFA-I Declares Ceasefire For 90 Days Amid Covid Rise

The outfit's decision came days after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma appealed to its chief Paresh Baruah to come forward for peace talks.

The United Liberation Front of Asom- Independent (ULFA-I) on Saturday announced a unilateral ceasefire for three months with immediate effect. The Paresh Baruah-led insurgent group said that it took the decision due to COVID-19 pandemic in Assam. "During the Covid-19, crisis time, we have decided for unilateral ceasefire for three months from every activity which will be effect from May 15, 2011(Saturday). We want to informed the indigenous people of Assam that for three months our every activity will be stopped," ULFA-I said in a press statement. Assam currently has a caseload of 3.15 lakh cases. Nearly 2,000 people have died in the state due to the virus. This is the second time that the banned outfit has announced a unilateral ceasefire; the first being in 2006.