In a big setback to the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), 33 militants, including 31 from the outfit and two from the tribal militant group Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), laid down arms.

They surrendered before GoC 4 Corps of Army Lt Gen B S Jaswal and Assam police DGP R N Mathur at a function held at Tamulpur in Baska district of Assam about 65 km from Guwahati on Tuesday.

The ultras will be provided six-month vocational training in trade of their choice at the Army-run rehabilitation and training centre (RTC) at Tamulpur. They will also be provided with Rs 1.5 lakh each and the amount will be paid to three-year fixed deposit accounts to be opened against the name of each of the surrendered militants.

The ceremony was organised by the Red Horn Division of the Army. The surrendered  ultras belonged to 709, 109 and 27th battalion of the proscribed outfit and were active in Western and northern Assam areas. The ultras also laid down 6.5 kg of RDX explosives , two AK-56 assault rifles, one AK-47 assault rifle, ten pistols, five revolvers, one muzzle loaded gun,  five grenades, 195 rounds of AK series ammunition, 35 rounds of small arms ammunition, 10 detonators, fuse wires and a wireless radio set.

Prominent among those surrendered, included senior ULFA cadres Nagen Rabha, Bhavesh Patgiri, Anil Das, Jaleswar Muchahary, Mohd Anwaruddin. The two female  ULFA cadres, who surrendered, were identified as Surati Rabha and Ranima Khakhlari. The surrendered KLNLF ultras were identified as Kamal Phangshu and Arun Ingti.

Welcoming the insurgents to the mainstream, Core Commander of Army Lt Gen Jaswal said that the Army operations in the state were guided by the philosophy 'Fight insurgency, not insurgents who are our misguided brothers and sisters'.

He said the surrender of militants reflected the better coordination enjoyed by the Army and the police in operating against ultras and hoped that more insurgents would come forward to join the mainstream in near future.

State police chief Mathur said the Centre had been extremely supportive to counter-insurgency operations in the state.
"We have received feelers that more ULFA militants will surrender shortly," he said.