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Assam militancy : 14 ULFA men lay down arms |
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Fourteen ULFA militants, including members of the outfit’s two strike units, surrendered to police at a simple ceremony in Guwahati on Sept. 6.
The militants handed over arms and ammunition before In¬spector-General of Police (Special Branch) Khagen Sarma at spe¬cial branch headquarters in Kahilipara. They expressed their willingness to shun violence.
“This is undoubtedly a big blow to ULFA as all those who surrendered were active members of the outfit and are directly involved in recent subversive activities across the state,” Sarma said.
This is the biggest surrender ever since the outfit’s spo¬kesman Ruby Bhuyan and explosives expert Khagen Kachari gave themselves up in February 2005.
Sarma said: “It is a major achievement for the police as the militants were working overground and were behind several blasts and other incidents of violence in different parts of the state.”
“The surrender of nine militants, active in Upper Assam, reflects the growing disillusionment among the outfit’s cadre with their leadership.”
Welcoming them to the mainstream, Sarma said they would be entitled to a grant of Rs 1.5 lakh from the government under the surrender-cum-rehabilitation scheme.
“Most of them were self-styled corporals, lieutenants and sergeants which means that they are the ones who would work over¬ground. These middle-rung cadres are more important to us as they execute plans hatched by the top leaders from outside the coun¬try,” he said.
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