Guwahati, Oct 17: Altogether 70 militants, including three women, belonging to the banned Ulfa and NDFB surrendered before the army in Assam's Nalbari district today, official sources said. The militants surrendered to general officer in commanding, Gajraj Corps Lt Gen Mohinder Singh at a function organised at Tamulpur.

Among the surrenderees, 40 belong to Ulfa, including a self-styled lieutenant and six sergeants and corporals, 18 of the NDFB, including a lieutenant and four sergeants and twelve others belonging to various other outfits.
The militants, led by ULFA's dreaded enigma unit leader Hiren Barman, also deposited about 50 assorted weapons, including several AK-56 and AK-47 rifles, carbines, .303 rifles, 12 bore rifles, pistols, revolvers, Chinese grenades and explosives, the sources said here.

Addressing the gathering, Lt Gen Singh lauded the decision of the militants to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream and also complimented their parents for motivating them to surrender.

He further said that the hard earned money of innocent people was being forcibly collected and siphoned off to foreign countries so that the leaders could enjoy a luxurious life while the cadres bore all the hardships.
Bureau Report