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Assam: 1,179 militants from two Bru outfits surrender with arms
Both the militant organisations had been in talk with the Assam police and the state government since 2017
A total of 1,179 militants of two Bru (Reang tribe) terror outfits surrendered with a large amount of arms and explosives in Assam’s Hailakandi district on Monday.
Assam Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary and minister Pijush Hazarika on behalf of the state government welcomed the militants to join the mainstream.
According to the Assam police, cadres of two different outfits United Democratic Liberation Front of Barak Valley (UDLF-BV) and Bru Revolutionary Army of Union (BRAU) surrendered on Monday.
Additional director general of police (special branch), Hiren Chandra Nath said that UDLF-BV and BRAU jointly laid down 385 firearms, including 18 AK series rifles, M16 rifles and a large amount of explosives.
Nath said that both the organisations had been in talk with the Assam police and the government since 2017. “This is the beginning of a permanent peace process in this region and we are optimistic that rest of the extremists will also lay down weapons soon,” he said.
Biswajit Daimari said that these BRU people had to take up weapons because they were deprived from basic rights for generations post India’s Independence.
“They were angry because the government and the society deprived them. They had to take up weapons because they were ignored. Our government extended hands and they have responded with open arms. Now it is our responsibility to fulfil the promises,” Daimari said.
He said that the government has included the BRU people in Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council and now they will decide what kind of development their people deserve.
“They will enjoy all the government facilities and additional development projects will be issued for BRU people. Their identity, security and overall development will change the minds of BRU youths,” Daimari added.
Assam minister for parliamentary affairs, water resources, information & public relations, Pijush Hazarika asked the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to give-up weapons and return to the mainstream.
“Almost all the extremist groups in Assam have joined the mainstream in the last one and a half years because of the development work we (the government) did. ULFA should also realise that things have changed in Assam and it’s time to give-up weapons,” he said.
Hazarika said that there was a time when people from mainland India were afraid of coming to Assam because of militancy and today things have changed.
“We are in an era of globalisation and there will be days when youths from America and Australia will come to Assam to work. But to transform that dream into reality, we need to create a society without fear. With today’s surrender, we took another step forward towards that future,” he said.
Hazarika and Daimari received memorandum from BRU community and several NGOs. They assured that more than 90 percent of the demands will be fulfilled. Daimari said that they will invite all the surrendered militants to Guwahati to attend a meeting with the chief minister.
Rajesh Charkhy, who was president of BRAU before surrendering, said that the state government has assured to give each surrendered militant ₹4 lakh as rehabilitation package. Additionally, they will be given jobs in various government departments (based on qualification), pre-recruitment training from the police department, training for handcrafts for Reang women and some other facilities.
Charkhy has been elected as an executive member of the Boro Cachari Council after the surrender. He said, in last five decades, so many innocent Reang people were victimised by police especially during the tenure of the Congress government. After so many discussions since 2016, they have found reasons to trust the government-led by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, he added.
However, one section of the surrendered militants showed displeasure over the government’s decision to include them in Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council.
Dhanyaram Reang, who formed the United Democratic Liberation Army (UDLA) in 2004, said that they had to take up weapons to protect their community. After 18 years, when they are giving up weapons, they are not sure if they have got the actual freedom.
“We gave so many lives and took many to get this freedom. But now when we are returning to the mainstream, the government has attached us with Bodo Kachari Welfare Council, that too with a verbal agreement. We are not happy but we trust Himanta Biswa Sarma,” he said.
Former information secretary of UDLF-BV, Bijoy Riang said that there are issues between different linguistic communities in Assam and if Bodo community finds a reason to dislike Reangs tomorrow, the Reangs have to fight again.
“We wanted independent council for BRU-Reang tribes but the government has merged us with Bodo Council. This won’t serve the purpose that we are looking for. Maybe in future, we have to start another fight,” he said.
