In the first step towards finding ways for ushering in permanent peace in Assam, a tripartite agreement for Suspension of Operations was signed among the Centre, the Assam Government and the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in New Delhi yesterday. The Union Government was represented by the Joint Secretary (North-East), Home Ministry, Shambhu Singh and the Assam Government by the Home Commissioner Jishnu Barua. Shashdhar Chaudhuri, Chtraban Hazarika and Raju Barua, three key ULFA functionaries, represented the banned outfit. AIR correspondent reports that ULFA had earlier agreed to abjure violence and find a solution to the problems as perceived by the outfit through peaceful negotiations with the Union Government and the Assam Government.