Wednesday, 29 November, brought great success to Manipur for the Union Government. The oldest active rebel group of the state has signed a peace agreement. The agreement is significant not only for Manipur but also for the North-East region. In the last few years, a particular strategy has been planned under the leadership of the Union Home Ministry, and it seems to be successful.

Manipur’s oldest rebel armed group, the UNLF (United National Liberation Front), has agreed to give up violence and join the mainstream. The UNLF signed a peace deal with the government on Wednesday and agreed to abandon violence. After this agreement, the oldest armed organization operating in the valley of Manipur has agreed to give up violence and join the mainstream. This agreement will herald the beginning of a new era of peace in the entire North-East region, especially in Manipur. UNLF has taken this decision after the central government extended the ban imposed on the group several years ago by five years.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s strategy behind this agreement worked. Thee areas where this organization was active were identified to establish peace in the Northeast. Union Home Minister Amit Shah held several meetings with Home Ministry officials and respective Chief Ministers from the North-Eastern states. The formation of UNLF and its initial expansion received the support of China. In the last few years, a unique strategy was made under which the Home Ministry planned to agree with this group.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced this agreement. He said that UNLF, the oldest group active in the valley of Manipur, has agreed to give up violence and join the normal. He said, “I welcome them to the democratic processes and wish the group all the best on the journey on the path of peace and progress. Many militant groups have laid down arms in the last few years.”

The militant group Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA), active in Assam, abandoned violence a while ago and signed a treaty with the Center and the state. The militant group signed the peace accord in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam CM. PM Modi had described DNLA’s decision to give up violence and join the mainstream as good news for peace and progress in the Northeast.

The DNLA organization talks about fighting for the sovereignty of the people of Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong through insurgency. This organization was active in many parts of Assam and Nagaland. The rehabilitation of surrendered cadres was decided, and a unique development package was announced.

In August 2019, an agreement was signed with Tripura’s militant organization NLFT (SD). In this, many cadres surrendered with weapons. The Bodo Agreement was signed in January 2020. Under which more than 2250 militants had surrendered with weapons. In February 2020, many leaders and cadres of the Karbi group surrendered in Assam.