A total of 1,179 militants of two Bru (Reang tribe) terror outfits surrendered with a large amount of arms and explosives in Assam’s Hailakandi district on Monday. Both the militant organisations had been in talk with the Assam police and the state government since 2017. Additional director general of police, Hiren Chandra Nath said that UDLF-BV and BRAU jointly laid down 385 firearms, including 18 AK series rifles, M16 rifles and a large amount of explosives. Under the scheme, thousands of surrendered cadres of various militant outfits have received skill training such as organic farming, DTP, cold storage chain, pisciculture, painting and electrician.
Cadres of two different outfits United Democratic Liberation Front of Barak Valley (UDLF-BV) and Bru Revolutionary Army of Union (BRAU) surrendered on Monday.
The two groups were under ceasefire as peace talks began in 2017 but the groups refused to surrender earlier. But the BJP-led government in Assam told them that peace talks would go ahead only if they laid down their weapons for rehabilitation of their cadres under the Centre’s scheme.
“Their decision to give up violence is very significant for the development of the entire Barak Valley. Our effort is to establish permanent peace for proper development across Assam,” Hazarika said. Speaker of Assam Assembly, Biswajit Daimary, who also attended the surrender event announced assistance of Rs. 50,000 each to 10 schools in the Reang inhibited areas.
ADGP (SB) Hiren Nath said that all other small rebel groups of Assam will also join the mainstream soon and the government will be able to complete the peace process.
In this program, Honorable President of Legislative Assembly Biswajit Daimari, Honorable MLA Mr. Vijay Malakar, Sujamundin Laskar, Zakir Hussain Laskar, Nizamundin Chowdhury, Ex Minister Gautam Roy, Assam Ark Additional director of Shier special branch Chief Hiren Chandranath sir, Cachar and Hailakandi district district district deputy commissioner of police including several others. Distinguished people and Assam police officers are present.
