12 militants surrender in south Assam

SILCHAR - Twelve militants of the United Democratic Liberation Tigers (UDLT) outfit surrendered to the Indian Army in Assam, army officials said here Monday.

Formed in 2008, the UDLT, a separatist outfit of non-tribals, was active in Hailakandi district of southern Assam.

“The militants led by their leader Habidur Rahman Laskar surrendered to Brig. M.K. Mukherji (commander of 57 Mountain Artillery Brigade) in Masimpur Army cantonment Sunday evening and deposited 12 firearms at a simple ceremony,” a defence spokesman told reporters.

“This surrender would go a long way to restore peace and normalcy in south Assam, bordering Bangladesh,” Mukherji said at the ceremony.

However, according to Assam police, UDLT president Atabur Rahaman, a robber-turned-rebel, is still underground with a limited number of cadres. His younger brother and UDLT vice-president Anisur Rahaman was arrested by the Assam Police last month and is now in jail.

Army troops were deployed in Hailakandi district earlier this year to contain terrorism in the area.

This is the second surrender of militants in the mountainous Hailakandi district during the past 23 months.

Earlier on Sep 29, 2008, 305 guerrillas of the United Liberation Front of Barak Valley (ULFBV) led by its president Pancharam Apeto had laid down arms and ammunition before Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

The ULFBV was active in the Barak valley regions of south Assam bordering Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura as well as Bangladesh.