Since 2016 Over 3,400 Assam Militants Surrendered: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Militant Groups left the Militancy

GUWAHATI:

Since 2016, a total of 3,439 insurgents have surrendered in Assam, according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who spoke in the Assam assembly on Monday. According to him, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) are now outlawed in the state, whereas the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) is still operating.

In response to a query from BJP MLA Biswajit Phukan, Sarma stated that 1,306 weapons, 20,722 different ammunitions, 89 bombs, 599 grenades, and 121.72 kg of explosives have been confiscated as of July 6 this year.

Aside from that, 748 firearms and 19,299 rounds of ammunition were surrendered by militants, he added.

The assam state government has taken special measures to rehabilitate insurgents militants who have surrendered their arms, according to the CM, adding that under the Centre's Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme of Northeast Militants, financial assistance of Rs 6,000 per month is provided, along with a fixed deposit of Rs 4 lakh. 

The government is also providing skill development training to 1,800 surrendered insurgents, with 1,192 of them receiving Rs 1 lakh to start a livelihood for themselves. 

Sarma stated that similar training programmes are being planned for NDFB militants in regions beyond the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

The chief minister also stated that his government is currently in talks with 11 militant groups, including the ULFA (Pro-talk), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), United Kukigam Defence Army (UKDA), Hmar People's Convention-Democratic (HPC-D), Adivasi People's Army (APA), and All Adivashi National Liberation Army (AANLA). 

In another news, ex-NDFB cadres have warned the Assam government that if promises made to them are not fulfilled on time, they will return to their old ways. Former militant group cadres demanded adequate rehabilitation opportunities and said that the Assam government and BTC administration were indifferent to the execution of the Peace Accord between them and the government. 

The demands include the release of National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) Chief Ranjan Daimary and other cadres who are still imprisoned, rehabilitation of NDFB cadres, and ex-gratia to family members of NDFB cadres who have been slain. 

Also Read - Assam: NDFB Cadres Warns about Returning to Old Ways if Promises are Unfulfilled

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