59 rebels surrender in Assam

Guwahati, Jun 24 (UNI) The outlawed ULFA today received a severe blow after 53 hardcore cadres of the outfit, along with six Naga militants, surrendered before the security forces in separate functions in Assam.

As many as 32 militants-- 26 ULFA, four NSCN(IM) and two NSCN(K) cadres, surrendered before the Army's 2nd Mountain Artillery Brigade in Mariani in upper Assam's Jorhat district.

The surrendered cadres were of the '28th battalion' of the ULFA, the outfit's main strike force, and included two women militants.

They deposited two AK 47 rifles, 13 pistols, 12 rifles, four grenades, two revolvers and a huge cache of ammunition.

In a separate surrender ceremony, another 26 cadres of the ULFA laid down arms before the Army's Red Horns Division in Tamulpur in lower Assam.

Cadres of the '709 battalion' of the proscribed group, the militants were led by a 'sergeant major'.

They deposited two Italian pistols, one 7.6 mm pistol, four each Chinese-made and Indian-made grenades, four detonators and ammunition.

Meanwhile, an ULFA cadre, Jogen Das, also surrendered before the Assam Rifles in Tezpur.

Trained in Bhutan, he was a member of the '709 battalion'. He deposited a revolver and 12 rounds of ammunition.

UNI SG KK/src1823