Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday that over 12 accords have been signed in the last five years with militant outfits and other organisations in the country's northeastern region, while over 10,000 cadres of various extremist groups have surrendered and joined the mainstream.
Home Minister Shah, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Tripura government were present at the agreement signing programme with two insurgent groups -- National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) -- in the national capital on Wednesday.
Chairing the signing ceremony, the Home Minister said that after 35 years of armed conflict, the cadres of the NLFT and the ATTF came to the mainstream, and decided to join the development process.
Around 328 cadres of the two outfits would join the mainstream of life and take part in the developmental initiatives, HM Shah said, adding that a Rs 250 crore package has been sanctioned, and a special development initiative was undertaken for the tribals and their areas.
Amit Shah also said that the government would implement all the provisions of the agreement in toto.
"Through the Ashtalakshmi concept and Purvodaya vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, huge development has already been achieved in road, rail and air connectivity in the eight northeastern states. Earlier, there was a gap between the northeastern states and Delhi but now with visionary leader PM Modi's initiatives, the region has achieved tremendous development," the Home Minister said.
Former Tripura Chief Minister and Lok Sabha Member Biplab Kumar Deb, Tipra Motha Party supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, senior officials at MHA and Tripura government were also present at the agreement signing ceremony.
A Tripura government official said that earlier on August 10, 2019, a tripartite agreement was signed in Delhi between the Centre, the Tripura government and a faction of the NLFT.
After the pact, 88 NLFT cadres surrendered to the Tripura government and deposited arms and ammunition.
The official said that the surrendered cadres were given benefits as per the Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme, 2018 of the MHA.
The Tripura government helped the surrendered cadres with housing, recruitment for government jobs, education and skill development training.
Both the NLFT and ATTF have been banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act since 1997 as the outfits have been involved in violence, operating from their camps across the International Border.
The two outfits have been responsible for violent activities, including numerous insurgency-related incidents in which many security force personnel and civilians lost their lives during the period 2005-2015.
Peace talks with NLFT were initiated in 2015 and there has been no major violence by NLFT since 2016.
An official statement said that the MHA has been working tirelessly to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed northeast, free from extremism, violence and conflict.
23 injured in two separate road accidents in Tripura
At least 10 students and a woman suffered breathing problems and six of them immediately shifted to the government-run Govind Ballabh Pant Medical College and Hospital and their condition stated to be not serious.
Abhinaba Banik to represent Tripura in National Youth festival 2025 as state youth icon student-scientist
The Directorate of Youth Affairs & Sports of Tripura government has nominated Abhinaba Banik to represent the state as State Youth Icon Student-Scientist at the National Youth Festival.
Odisha's strategic position under PM Modi's 'Act East Policy' to take centre stage at PBD event
There is no denying the fact that under the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s connection with its global diaspora has strengthened significantly over the last decade. A number of initiatives have been launched for the welfare of Indian nationals living abroad.
India well prepared to handle HMPV, surveillance shows no unusual surge: Centre
India is well-prepared to handle respiratory illnesses and surveillance shows no unusual surge in the country, according to the government, as reports surface about rising cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China in the past few weeks.
PM Modi guarantees continuation of free welfare schemes in Delhi
No existing public welfare scheme in Delhi will be withdrawn after BJP comes to power in Delhi, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, virtually guaranteeing the continuation of free water, power and bus travel for women offered by the current AAP government.
Three killed as Coast Guard chopper crashes in Gujarat's Porbandar
An Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) crashed in Gujarat's Porbandar on Sunday, killing all three crew members on board, a top police official confirmed.
AAPda govt lacks vision to drive Delhi's development: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a sharp critique of the AAP government in Delhi, calling it an "AAPda government" that lacks vision for the city's progress.