1,182 cadres of Adivasi extremist groups lay down arms at Assam event

The firearms surrendered by the cadres of extremist groups included 304 sophisticated arms and 1,460 rounds of ammunition.

Updated on: Jul 6, 2023, 19:08:48 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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GUWAHATI: In a boost to peace efforts in Assam, 1,182 cadres of five Adivasi extremist groups and three factions laid down arms at a ceremony in Guwahati on Thursday.

A tribal militant lays down arms in the presence of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during a ceremony in Guwahati on Thursday. (ANI)

The extremist groups that laid down their arms are ACMA (Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam) and ACMA factional group, AANLA (All Adivasi National Liberation Army) and AANLA factional group, BCF (Bircha Commando Force) and BCF factional group, APA (Adivasi People’s Army) and STF (Santhal Tiger Force).

The arms surrendered by the cadres included 304 sophisticated arms and 1,460 rounds of ammunition.

To be sure, these organizations surrendered in January 2012 and signed the agreement of Suspension of Operation in October 2016. Since then, several rounds of talks have taken place between these groups and the government. On September 15 last year, the Adivasi Accord was signed between these groups, the Centre and the Assam government.

Militants of various Adivasi groups during the arms laying down ceremony in presence of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (ANI)

In May this year, the Assam government constituted a 16-member Adivasi Welfare and Development Council in line with the agreement signed between the three sides.

“Our efforts to bring all disgruntled elements to the peace process have yielded dividends as eight Adivasi extremist groups laid down their arms to come to the mainstream of the society. It is an important day for strengthening peace in Assam and taking along everybody on board towards the forward march of the state”, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said during the event.

Sarma also appealed to ULFA (Independent) to come for talks.“In Assam when all militant groups have come over ground, ULFA should also come for talks in the interest of all sections of the people of the state,” he said.

The chief minister announced a rehabilitation package of ₹4 lakh each for the cadres who surrendered on Thursday. The government will also give them Rs. 6,000 every month for three years.

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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