Fourteen militants surrender in Assam

Guwahati, Oct 29 (UNI) As many as 14 militants of the ULFA, NSCN(IM), KLNLF and DHD surrendered before the Army at the Laipuli camp of 181 Mountain Brigade in Tinsukia district of upper Assam today.

GoC of 2 Mountain Division Brigadier PK Saini welcomed the militants back to the mainstream. The deputy commissioners of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts, superintendent of police of Tinsukia and additional SP of Sivsagar district were also present on the occasion.

Army sources informed that the militants included two women cadre of the ULFA, including 'private' Toormani Borgohain, wife of the outfit's 'commander' Pranjal Saikia who had laid down arms recently. The other woman cadre who surrendered during the day was Minu Neog alias Madhusmita.

The militants included ten cadres of the ULFA, two of the Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Force (KLNLF) and one each of Dima Halom Daogah (DHD) and NSCN (IM). The ULFA militants were from the 27th and 28th battalions of the outfit, mostly from B and C companies of the latter battalion, regarded as the most potent strike force of the outfit. They were led by 'sergeant major' Ratan Wakhet of the 27th battalion. DHD 'area commander' Manmot Happila and KLNLF corporal Harsam Togbi were among the other militants who surrendered.

The militants deposited five pistols, two grenades and a large quantity of ammunition and explosives. Today's surrender came within seven days of surrender of 33 ULFA and KLNLF militants in Tamulpur.

UNI