Guwahati: In what may expedite the ongoing peace-talks, the home ministry on Friday appointed former director of the Intelligence Bureau, Dineshwar Sharma, as the new interlocutor for talks with the insurgent groups of Assam, including the pro-talk factions of United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
Mr Sharma, who is a 1976 batch IPS officer of the Kerala cadre, has been appointed in place of Mr P.C. Haldar, who served till December 31, 2015.
Mr Sharma, who took over the office on Friday, has been assigned the task of concluding the peace-talks with all the insurgent groups holding ceasefire with security forces in Assam.
With the signing of Suspension of Operation agreement between the Ranjan Daimary factions of NDFB on September 12, 2013, there were 13 insurgent groups, which were engaged in peace-talks with the government. Sources said the focus would be to resolve the conflict with Ulfa and NDFB. Records say there are over 600 cadres of these two insurgent groups who are getting stipend and lodged in various designated camps in the state.
