A recent tripartite agreement between five insurgent groups of Assam, the central government, and the state government has triggered fresh insights into the insurgency issues plaguing the region. The agreement epitomizes the vision of an insurgency-free prosperous northeast, aiming for overall development, peace, and prosperity.
Karbi Anglong Crisis: A Brief Overview
Karbi Anglong, centrally located in Assam, is the largest district of the state and hosts a diversified ethnic blend of tribal groups like Karbi, Dimasa, Bodo, Kuki, Hmar, Tiwa, Garo, Man (Tai speakers), Rengma Naga. The region’s diversity has spurred various outfits and fueled an insurgency impeding regional development. The Karbis, a dominant ethnic group in Assam, have seen numerous factions and splinters surface over time. Since the late 1980s, the history of the Karbi group has been dominated by killings, ethnic violence, abductions, and taxation. Several insurgent groups of Karbi Anglong, such as People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK) and Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), have emerged with the primary aim of forming a separate state.
Demands of the Militant Groups
The militant groups have put forth several demands, including the inclusion of certain areas into the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), the reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes, more powers to the KAAC, inclusion of the Karbi language in the Eighth Schedule, and a financial package of Rs 1,500 crore. It’s important to note that the KAAC is an autonomous district council protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Highlights of the Karbi-Anglong Peace Agreement
In a major development, five militant organizations (KLNLF, PDCK, UPLA, KPLT, and KLF) surrendered their arms and over 1,000 armed cadres gave up violence to join the mainstream. A special development package of Rs. 1,000 crore over five years has been sanctioned by the Central and Assam Government for the development of Karbi areas. The agreement promises greater autonomy to the KAAC, ensuring it does not compromise Assam’s territorial and administrative integrity. The agreement also includes provisions for the rehabilitation of armed groups’ cadres.
Development and Rehabilitation Plans
The Assam government plans to set up a Karbi Welfare Council focusing on the development of Karbi people living outside the KAAC area. Furthermore, the agreement guarantees the preservation of Karbi culture, identity, language, and overall regional development. Changes will be made to the State’s Consolidated Fund to cater for the resources of the KAAC.
Recent Northeast Peace Agreements
Several peace agreements have been signed recently in the northeast, including the NLFT Tripura Agreement with National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) in 2019, which saw a Special Economic Development Package (SEDP) of Rs.100 crore offered by the Indian Government. The Bru Accord in 2020 focused on settling nearly 37,000 Brus in Tripura, who had fled from Mizoram due to ethnic clashes. Lastly, the Bodo Peace Accord signed in 2020 resulted in renaming the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) as the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in Assam, acknowledging the Bodos’ long-standing demand for a separate state.
