“COVID-19 situation yet to stabilise”: ULFA-I extends unilateral ceasefire for another 3 months

The outfit has urged people to protest the Independence day "democratically" by unfurling the ULFA-I flag, wearing black badges and waving black flags with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.

The banned United Liberation Front of Asom - Independent (ULFA-I) outfit on August 14 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. This statement comes after the ULFA-I announced that for the first time in three decades, it will not engage in any "armed protest" or call for bandh on this Independence Day, which was the norm earlier, due to several issues including the pandemic, border conflicts in South Asia, floods, erosion and unemployment. ULFA-I commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, in a mailed statement, said that the outfit had announced the ceasefire on May 15 and have decided to refrain from any operation during this three-month period as people were facing difficulties due to the pandemic.