Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday said that the government will arrange reemployment of the 644 extremists who have surrendered today at the GMCH auditorium.
Speaking at the Arms Laying Down Ceremony at the GMCH auditorium, Sonowal said that the government's main aim is to make Assam free from corruption, terrorism, and foreigners'. "Without peace, the state cannot progress and therefore we want a peaceful state. The surrendered extremists could take the benefits of the government scheme," said Sonowal.
Sonowalalso praised the role of IGP Hiren Chandra Nath of Assam Police and urge themilitants who are still serving the militant groups to surrender.
The extremists from ULFA, NDFB, KLO, NLFB, NSLOand Adivasi Dragon Force have surrendered today in front of the ChiefMinister and other top officials of Assam Police.
A total of 644 rebel leaders and cadres havelaid down their arms before the chief minister in. All of them have returnedfrom various places along with a huge amount of arms and ammunition.
Earlier this month, banned NDFB signed an agreementwith the government for suspension of operations.
According to the pact, the NDFB under the leadershipof its 'president' B Saoraigwra will abjure violence and join in peace talkswith the government.
The tripartite agreement was signed by representativesof the NDFB and the central and Assam governments, the officials said. Activemembers of the NDFB including Saoraigwra were brought back from Myanmar on January11.
Top leaders including Saoraigwra, its 'generalsecretary', 'commander-in-chief' and 'finance secretary' were part of thegroup, an official said.
The group carried 25 weapons, more than 50 magazines,more than 900 assorted ammunition and communication equipment with them.Saoraigwra's group was active in Myanmar along with other northeast insurgentgroups.
The demand for a separate state for the Bodos has been in going on in Assam for about five decades with several Bodo overground and militant groups raising it, leading agitations, protests, and violence that resulted in many deaths.
Agreements were signed in 1993 and 2003 to resolve the vexed issue. A Bodo Territorial Council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution was created in 2003 to meet political, developmental and identity-related aspirations of the Bodos.