Karbi Anglong peace accord may sound like any other news piece, but it is the most important news in recent times

On Saturday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, “Today Assam has made a giant leap forward. Grateful to Adarniya PM Sri @narendramodi for your blessings which has paved the way for signing of the historic Karbi Anglong Agreement today. Gratitude to Hon HM Sri @AmitShah for your constant guidance & blessing Assam with this.”

Himanta Biswa Sarma was talking about the Karbi Anglong peace accord- a tripartite agreement signed among the Government of India, the Government of Assam and five insurgent groups active in the Karbi Anglong region of Assam. Though it might seem like routine news of the government solving a local crisis, this is the most important domestic news over the recent past as it ensures the integrity of Assam and peace in Northeast India. 

What is the Karbi Anglong conflict:

Karbi Anglong is the largest district in Assam, consisting of various tribal and ethnic groups like Karbis, Bodos, Kukis, Dimasas, Hmars, Garos, Rengma Nagas, Tiwas, and Man (Tai speaking).

The main conflict in the Karbi Anglong region of Assam was also that of ethnic violence. Repeated clashes took place within the local tribes over the past several years. Karbis constitute around 46 per cent population of the Karbi Anglong region and are the majority tribe in this part of Assam.

Demand for statehood and integrity of Assam:

Resolving the Karbi Anglong crisis was a matter of integrity for Assam. The Karbi Anglong district is an autonomous district under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India. In the 1990s, the Karbi Anglong District Council (KADC) was also upgraded and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) was set up to ensure that sufficient autonomy was given to the region. 

However, the Karbi demand for statehood didn’t die down till the latest peace accord was signed in Delhi. The Karbi demand for statehood was backed by armed militancy since the 1990s. To accelerate the demand for statehood, two organisations called Karbi National Volunteers (KNV) and Karbi People’s Force (KPF) were also formed in 1996. 

Several attempts were made by successive governments to resolve the Karbi Anglong conflict, but every single ceasefire agreement with the government was violated by one splinter group or the other. Presently, the Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) was the most active group in the region demanding Karbi statehood. It was formed as a breakaway group from the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) in 2010. 

KPLT reportedly maintained links with ULFA (I), NDFB (S) and NSCN (IM). As such, it was the only armed fighting force demanding Karbi statehood. 

However, the latest tripartite agreement in Delhi has been signed by all the Karbi groups active in the region namely the People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK), Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT), Kuki Liberation Front (KLF) and the United Peoples Liberation Army (UPLA). 

Moreover, over 1,000 militants will surrender, abjure violence and join the peaceful democratic process established by law. Accordingly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, “The signing of the Historic Karbi Anglong Agreement. Modi government is committed to resolving the decades-old crisis, ensuring the territorial integrity of Assam.” 

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma too reiterated that the “of this tripartite Agreement marks the end of decades old crisis and ensures territorial integrity of Assam.” 

Accelerating development process in Karbi Anglong:

The Government of India and the Government of Assam have successfully managed to end violence related to the statehood demand and ethnic conflict in Karbi Anglong. And now, they are looking to accelerate development in the region apart from fulfilling local aspirations to promote peace and prosperity in the conflict-ridden region. 

Assam CM tweeted, “The Government of Assam will consider favourably the proposal of KAAC to notify Karbi as the official language of KAAC. However English, Hindi & Assamese will continue to be used for official purposes.” 

The Centre may allocate Rs. 500 crore for the region for the development of infrastructure in the KAAC area over the next five years. Additionally, another Rs. 500 crores would be provided for the development of the area. The tripartite peace agreement also provides for the rehabilitation of the cadres of armed groups to mitigate the consequences of the decades-old conflict in the region. 

Sarma also tweeted, “The GoA will provide financial compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each of the next of kin of persons who lost their lives in agitations related to autonomous state demand and have not yet been compensated in any manner.” 

One of the biggest points of conflict in Assam has thus been resolved. Thus goes a long way in ensuring peace and stability in Assam, which is in itself crucial for keeping India’s strategically crucial Northeastern region peaceful.