All members of newly formed Bodo militant outfit in Assam likely to surrender

In a statement issued in March, the outfit had stated that formation of a separate state of Bodoland for people from the Bodo tribe was their main goal

Published on: Jul 22, 2021, 12:33:44 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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All members of a newly formed Bodo militant outfit, National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB), including its chief Binod Mushahary alias M Batha, are expected to surrender at a ceremony in Assam on Thursday.

M Batha and his cadres were part of the 1,615 militants who had surrendered in January last year after the signing of the third Bodo peace pact between the Centre and four factions of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). (PTI)

“People’s trust on the govt. policies is reflected by NLFB’s decision to return to the mainstream today. I welcome their homecoming,” Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted on Thursday.

“We reiterate our commitment for all-round development of Bodoland and to protect the unique socio-cultural and political identity of Bodo people,” he added.

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National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a ₹10 lakh reward for Batha’s capture. He is reported to be hiding in Arunachal Pradesh along with around 60 cadres. They are expected to lay down their arms at Mazbat in Udalguri district.

Batha and his cadres were part of the 1,615 militants who had surrendered in January last year after the signing of the third Bodo peace pact between the Centre and four factions of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

But Batha and his followers went back to the jungles after a few months and formed NLFB. Details of the new outfit emerged in February this year after recovery of a large cache of arms meant for NLFB was seized in Assam.

In a statement issued in March, the outfit had stated that formation of a separate state of Bodoland for people from the Bodo tribe was their main goal. The NIA registered a case against the outfit in May this year and is probing their activities.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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