Peace process: 300 Reang rebels to return to mainstream

From Special Correspondent

Silchar, Aug 27: For the last several years, the southern most border of Hailakandi with Mizoram has been a witness to rebel activities in the form of kidpping, extortions, intimidations and harassment of people. However, a positive sigl has emerged with the moves being initiated by the high level police officials, both at the state and the district levels. According to specific information from Hailakandi, around 300 rebels under their leaders, Dhanyaram Reang and Rajesh Chorkhy, are expected to return to the mainstream of life.

 In fact, a high level meeting was held in the Circuit House on Hailakandi on Saturday where IGP Anurag Kumar Tanka, DIGP Akhilesh Kumar Singh, DC of Hailakandi Krish Gobinda Bhuiya, SPs of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi, Rakesh Roushan, Gaurav Upadhaya and Prabjyoti Goswami, Dhanyaram Reang and Rajesh Chorkhy, 30 Assam Rifles Colonel Siddhartha Dilip Deshmukh, Major Jackson Jose and Colonel Jecob. The meeting was crucial as it laid down the strategy of the state administration for bringing the rebels over ground, terms and conditions of surrender as well as the modalities for a permanent solution to the chronic problem of insurgency.

 The leaders of the two groups, UDLF (B) and UDLA (B), Dhanyaram Reang and Rajesh Chorkhy, expressed their demand for all round development of the tribal areas of south Hailakandi. According to a source, in the next two months, list of the rebels of both groups ready to surrender and the arms and ammunitions would be ready to give fil touch to the farewell to arms ceremony, the venue of which is to be decided later on. IGP Anurag Kumar Tanka was hopeful that the peace process initiated would culmite in the end of all sorts of insurgent activities.

 The district administration of Hailakandi has assured of all possible help in the implementation of any agreement to be signed between the rebel groups and the state. Before sitting formally with the rebel leaders, IGP and his officials went to Ramthpur, the bordering area with Mizoram, where he met the leaders of the two outfits. It is to be recollected in 2008 Panchuram Reang laid down arms and ammunitions with his 300 comrades belonging to United Democratic Liberation Front (UDLF-B) at Guwahati before the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

 After the surrender of UDLF (B), peace and normalcy came back in the disturbed zone of Hailakandi but it was short-lived. The militants in splinter groups came out of the jungle and indulged in all sorts of crimes, creating a reign of fear and panic among people. A permanent post of Assam Rifles was set up at Ratabari to rein in the rebels. After the unit of Assam Rifles was withdrawn, it was back to square one. There was a time when interl dissension and conflict created fissures in the extremist group. Rajesh Chorkhy, publicity secretary, severed his ties with UDLA and formed another group Bru Revolutiory Army Union (BRAU).

 This group has also been involved in creating major law and order problem in south Hailakandi. With the coming to power of BJP led Government at Dispur, the priority of Sonowal Ministry has been to make sincere efforts for dialogue with the militants still in wilderness and bring them back to the mainstream of life. The peace process initiated in south Hailakandi has been hailed by the tribal groups and the civil society of Barak Valley in general.