Prabal Neog. A file picture

Guwahati, Sept. 29: The ceasefire group of Ulfa’s 28 battalion has asked Dispur to call off army operations from Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts of Upper Assam on an “experimental basis” to give the peace process a chance.

The request comes in the wake of New Delhi rejecting the B company’s demand for disbanding the Unified Command as a precondition for it to join the pro-peace group, which comprises the A and C companies of 28 battalion.

Prabal Neog, former commander of the battalion and a leader of the ceasefire group, told The Telegraph today that Dispur has assured the peaceniks that their demand would be considered.

“We have received a verbal assurance from Dispur that the request will be considered,” Neog said.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said on Saturday that the government would deliberate on withdrawal of army operations if peace continues to prevail in the state.

“It is not yet time to send the army back to the barracks,” Gogoi had told reporters.

After the Centre’s “no” to disbanding the Unified Command, Dispur had again asked Delhi to allow “safe passage” to the cadres of the remaining unit of the outfit’s 28 battalion to come overground.

Though the Centre was unwilling to risk security, Dispur is open to taking a few “chances” to give the peace process a push, a source in the home ministry had said.

Halting operations is necessary to instil confidence in those who are still underground, Neog said today.

The leader, who is currently camping at Nalbari in Lower Assam to monitor the ceasefire process of a group from the 709 battalion, said army operations have come as a hurdle in the peace initiative.

Twenty-one cadres of the 709 battalion are staying at a designated camp at Moriadonga area in Nalbari.

The ceasefire process in Lower Assam will get a major boost with a self-styled second lieutenant expected to join the group “very soon”.

Neog said the group would take responsibility of security in the twin districts of Upper Assam, if required.

Both districts, which were bastions of the A and C companies, have been “incident-free” since the companies declared unilateral ceasefire, he said.

“We have assured Dispur that there would be no incidents of violence in the twin districts in future,” he said.

Neog, who was arrested from Tezpur while on his way to Arunachal Pradesh and later joined the ceasefire group, said there were no Bravo company cadres operating in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts at the moment.

“Most of the cadres of the company are holed up in Myanmar camps and a few are operating in Sivasagar and Jorhat districts,” he said.

Jiten Dutta, another leader of the pro-peace group, said it was not only the Bravo company cadres, but also villagers who were not convinced about peace efforts.

“Army personnel are regularly operating in interior villages, harassing common people. The army actions are becoming a hurdle in our efforts to win the confidence of the common people,” Dutta said.