Army officer's efforts pay off in surrender of ULFA's top leader Drishti Rajkhowa

NEW DELHI/SHILLONG: In a major setback to insurgency in Northeast, Drishti Rajkhowa, also known as 'Major Rabha' or 'Drishti Asom' from ULFA (I) — a banned insurgent organisation — surrendered on late Wednesday night at the Red Horns Division of the Indian Army. The deputy commander-in-chief of ULFA (I) surrendered along with his four bodyguards — a culmination of nine years of persistent efforts in this regard by a young officer of the Military Intelligence (MI), said official sources.

It has been also pointed out that the surrender is the result of hard work, dedication and nine years of sincere efforts put in by the MI officer and swift planning by the Military Intelligence.

The young MI Captain had got in touch with the dreaded insurgent in 2011 and maintained his communication channel with him despite multiple transfers. All these years, the officer ignored his personal safety and encouraged the insurgent to surrender and come into the mainstream and facilitate it for others too, said the sources.

With his numerous conversations, the officer was able to soften the rigid view of the insurgent and managed to convince him that insurgency is the biggest hurdle in the path of prosperity of the people in the region, said the sources. Finally, Rajkhowa was convinced and agreed to surrender on Wednesday.

The MI staff in Delhi crafted a surrender plan under the supervision of Director General of MI (DGMI) after much deliberations to meet the security and safety requirements peculiar to the case. The plan was executed on ground with the support of the Meghalaya-based Red Horns Division of the Army.

On November 11, around midnight, the operation was launched. Rajkhowa surrendered along with his four bodyguards, and gave up one AK-81 assault rifle and two pistols. Subsequently, they were taken to an undisclosed safer location, said the sources.

Rajkhowa, an RPG expert responsible for several attacks in the Northeast, is a close confidant of ULFA (Independent) commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah who has been hiding in China. Rajkhowa was the commander of 109 Battalion of ULFA (I) until 2011 when Baruah promoted him as his deputy. This surrender has dealt a severe blow to Baruah, ULFA (I), its cadres and the organisation's design in the region, added the sources.

On the directions of his chief, Rajkhowa became the mastermind behind gun-running in the north-eastern States and even in Bangladesh, said sources. He was hiding in Mymensingh city of Bangladesh, around 120 km north of Dhaka.

One of the primary suppliers of firearms to various insurgent groups, he used to frequently shuttle between Garo Hills in Meghalaya and Bangladesh for this purpose, sources said. He was regarded as an honorary leader by the Garo insurgents.

Rajkhowa has survived many encounters, with the last one as recent as October 20 this year. Sources said that his surrender before the Army is a great success for the Central government, given its persistent efforts to eradicate insurgency in the region. (IANS)

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