GUWAHATI, Dec 5 � Serious efforts are on by the Central and State Governments to bring the peace process with the Ranjan Daimary faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) back to rails after a split in the ranks of the outfit, which threatened to jeopardize the process.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune today that the Government of India is of the view that talking to one faction of the militant group would not yield the desired results and that is why efforts are on to bring majority of the members of the splinter group to join the peace process.
Sources revealed that at least seven rounds of informal talks were held with Ranjan Daimary and Centre�s interlocutor PC Haldar to pave the way for formal talks and the Government is not keen on stopping the peace process at this moment. That is why the Government informally facilitated Daimary to use phone in jail for a few days so that he can get in touch with other senior level leaders of the outfit to hold discussions on the issue of talks with the Government. Sources said that according to information gathered by the security agencies, majority of the NDFB leaders and members are still in favour of talks and Daimary also managed to persuade a number of senior members, who had joined the splinter group, to rejoin the peace process.
Official sources said that Daimary�s bail petition is pending before the Court and if the peace process progresses satisfactorily, the Government may facilitate his release on bail so that the formal talks can start. Daimary has reportedly sought six months time to start the formal talks as the outfit would have to hold its national council meeting to take vital decisions on talks with Government.
Sources further said that according to an assessment made by the security agencies, at least 150 cadres of the NDFB (R) are now in Assam and the strength of the outfit in Myanmar would be around 200 to 250. However, not all those in Myanmar are in favour of the commander in chief IK Songbijit, who formed a splinter group. However, Daimary recently managed to persuade members of the splinter group to rejoin the peace process.
Meanwhile, security sources revealed that Songbijit was under pressure from other militant groups in Myanmar to come out of the peace process. A number of militant outfits have bases in the Taga area of Myanmar and the NDFB also is maintaining a strong base in that area. The outfit is also maintaining some bases in Sherpur area of Bangladesh.
