TAMULPUR, Jan 31 ? The peace process in the State received a shot in the arm today as 156 militants, belonging mostly to the banned ULFA and the NDFB, laid down their arms before the GOC Gajraj Corps, Lt Gen Anup Singh Jamwal at Tamulpur in Nalbari district and pledged to shun violence and be a part of the mainstream. Those who surrendered included five woman cadres as well.
Significantly, the general amnesty declared by the State Government for militants wishing to surrender expires today. But the GOC made it clear that it would have no effect on the Army?s endeavour to get militants surrendered and that ?surrenders will continue.? Welcoming the militants to the mainstream, Jamwal called for a collective approach to tackle the problem of militancy and said the best possible solution of the imbroglio should be a political one.
?While the Army can create a conducive atmosphere for peace to return, it is the responsibility of the government, the society and the people in general to expedite the process so that lasting peace is gained,? he said. When asked if this was the right time to start a political dialogue with the militant groups, Jamwal, however, avoided a direct reply and said it was a matter better left to the government machinery.
Those who surrendered today included 91 NDFB and 53 ULFA cadres besides some MULTA and BTF ones. The rehabilitation ceremony was organised by the Red Hons Division, Tamulpur. Attributing this mass surrender to the Operation All Clear launched by the Bhutan Government in December and the subsequent ?reach out? drive of the Indian Army in lower Assam, Jamwal said the Army was successful in establishing a good rapport with the militants? family members and the village elders that ultimately paved the way for their return to the mainstream.
Jamwal also acknowledged the role of the State and Central police besides the civil administration in dealing with counter-insurgency drives and asserted that the perfect synergy existed between the different agencies engaged in the operation. Assessing the overall militancy scenario in the State as positive, the GOC said everybody, more importantly the militants themselves, were realising the futility of armed struggle and the disastrous consequences it leaves on the society.
?More and more militants are coming forward to lead a normal life, which is proof enough that militancy is definitely on the wane in the State,? he observed. He also complimented the parents as well as the family members of the former militants for motivating and persuading their wards to give up the path of violence and promised adequate rehabilitation for all the surrendered militants with assistance from the district administration.
The surrendered militants narrated their disillusionment with the flawed ideology of the outfits and the selfish and lavish lifestyle of their leaders, which prompted them to eschew the path of violence. ?A number of rehabilitation camps are being run that train surrendered militants in different vocational activities who are also paid a stipend of Rs 2,000 a month for a year,? he revealed. In the past year, 4 Corps has held seven such rehabilitation ceremonies resulting in the surrender of about 260 militants.