Banned Assam Outfit ULFA-I Extends Ceasefire By 90 Days, Cites Covid

Chief Minister Himanta Sarma had urged the outfit to come forward on the negotiating table.

The banned ULFA (Independent) outfit on Saturday extended the unilateral ceasefire, announced in May this year, for another three months as the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Assam is yet to improve. ULFA (I) commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, in a statement mailed to journalists, said that the outfit had announced the ceasefire on May 15 and decided to refrain from any operation during this three-month period as people were facing difficulties due to the pandemic. ''The COVID-19 situation is yet to stabilise and as our social responsibility, we have extended the ceasefire for another three months and no operations will be conducted during this period,'' he said. Responding to the development, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "This is a very encouraging and positive announcement. The ULFA (I) has also not called for any bandh on Independence Day either, which was the norm earlier. These measures are commendable. I hope that the ceasefire becomes permanent and the outfit under the leadership of Paresh Barua returns to the mainstream."