809 BNLF militants surrender

Agartala, Oct 23 (UNI) Altogether 809 militants belonging to the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) surrendered before the Mizoram police and government officials today at Naisingpara in Tripura's North district.

This is the largest ever surrender of insurgents anywhere in the country.

Assam Rifles sources said the militants had deposited 75 firearms, including one AK 47 series rifle, some automatic carbines, .22 rifles, 9 mm pistols, country-made guns, grenades and huge quantities of live cartridges to Mizoram government and police officials.

The sources further added that the Mizoram government had decided to give Rs. 40,000 to the surrendered militants as grant. They would be allowed to stay at government run camps Damparangpui in Mamit district of Mizoram for a year.

After the surrender, facilitated by the Assam Rifles, 400 militants were sent to Mizoram today and the rest would be sent tomorrow. The formal surrender ceremony will be held at Tuipuibari, a village in Mamit district bordering Tripura on October 27 where officials from the Home Ministry and the North Eastern Council will be present, the sources added.

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