809 Bru militants lay down arms

Agartala/Aizawl, Oct 23 (UNI) Over 800 Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BLFM) militants deposited their arms before the Mizoram police and government officials today at Naisingpara in Tripura's North district.

Assam Rifles sources said, however, the formal surrender ceremony of the 809 rebels 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.

Meanwhile, the first batch of 400 BLFM cadres, accompanied by high level police officials, has left Kanchanpur of North Tripura for Damparengpui village of Mamit district of Mizoram today.

Talking to UNI this evening, Superintendent of Police CID, Mizoram, Mr Lal Dhina said the rest of the cadres, who had taken shelter in six different camps at Kanchanpur area of Tripura, will be leaving tomorrow morning for Mizoram to join the first batch.

To a question about the exact number of surrenderee, he said ''final head count will take place after the arrival of the second batch''.

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.

Superindent of Police Mamit division Neihchunga further said the weapons would be formally handed over to Mizoram police during surrender ceremony parade.

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 and Tuipuibari villages for a year.

The official also mentioned that Mizoram government will take every possible step to pardon the surrendered rebels get their police cases cleared as well as get the release of rebels currently incarcerated in jails.

This is the largest surrender in the history of militant surrender in the country.

UNI PD-BB-SNR/KK SB HT1950