TEZPUR, Dec 26 ? Finally after a weeklong drama about the death of Bhimkanta Buragohain, popularly known as ?Mama?, the Army authorities of HQ 4 Corps led by Lt General Mohinder Singh, GOC 4 Corps and the operational head of the Unified Command Structure physically produced him before the media persons at the Gajraj Officer Institute here today along with three other cadres.
The three other cadres are self-styled Major Rabin Handique, Bolin Das alias Kamal Kachari and SS Major Dr Amarjit Gogoi who were immediately whisked away from the media persons from the venue. Mama who was produced in public today after he was captured by the Royal Bhutanese Army from the Buddhist kingdom was handed over to the Indian Army on Thursday, said Lt Gen Mohinder Singh.
The 78-year old Mama in his dictated speech read out as ?I have to say to all our cadres and members of ULFA, to lay down their arms and I think from myside, the path which we led is wrong. This is why I call to all ULFA members to think it deeply; we need to think that peace does not come through the barrel, but through negotiations. I want to say, to come to ceasefire bothside, to come to understanding with Government of India, to come to negotiation table and to resolve this matter completely.
The 78-year old and the founder of ULFA as well as known as the father of ULFA started the organisation in 1978 at Sivasagar. He has been in Burma for two years and since 1998 he has been in Bhutan from where he has been manning the organisation was also whisked away by the Army to an undisclosed location. Speaking on the occasion General Singh said Army operations in the State will be intensified soon. At present the Army is awaiting and monitoring the situation, the GOC 4 Corps said, adding that after the Royal Bhutan Army launched the operation flush out 20 militants have been eliminated by the Army after they tried to sneak in while 49 ultras are in Army custody.
The General further disclosed that of the 37 families who were handed over by the RBA, 29 were female militant cadres. A PIB (defence note) issued here stated that self-styled Major Robin Handique (66) who was appointed newly as political advisor to assist Mama had a meeting with the Royal Government of Bhutan on November 2, 2003 where Mama, Robin Neo and Asanta Bagh Phukan requested the Bhutan government for time till April 2004 for shifting their camps from the Bhutan soil which was refused by the Bhutan government.
Meanwhile, resentment prevails among the media persons who were invited after senior Army officials including Lt Gen Mohinder Singh, GOC 4 Corps had a hot exchange of words after the media persons were denied for an informal interaction with Bhimkanta Borgohain as assured by the Army in their release.
Our Tinsukia Correspondent adds: Faced with the setbacks and the mounting pressure from the troops of 2 Mountain Division operating in the Upper Assam district of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, ULFA cadre in the region have started to lay down their arms and to join the main stream.
Speaking on the occasion, Commander 181 Mountain Brigade congratulated the surrenderees for their brave and momentous decision of giving up arms and welcomed them into the national mainstream. He wished them and their families all success in their new walk of life in the on coming new year. He also appealed to other cadres to follow their lead and join the path of peaceful living and development. Later, a collective oath was taken by the surrenderees to abide by the Constitution and law of the land.
Our Kokrajhar Correspondent reports: One National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) extremist was killed in an encounter with the Army this morning at about 7.30 at Tukrajhar no. 2 under Bengtol Out Post of Basugaon PS in Kokrajhar District, police sources said. According to the sources, the Army carried out a search operation in the area acting on a tip off. During search operation the encounter took place. The decased has been identified as Bimal Basumatary. Army also recovered two grenades from the spot.
Meanwhile, the body of ULFA cadre Ananta Gohain of Tokoubam village under Chabua PS was cremated to-day at his home village in front of large number of villagers. Gohain was killed in Bhutan and his body was carried by his relatives from Tamulpur PS. All shops & educational institutions remained closed today.
PTI adds from Dimakuchi: (Indo-Bhutan border) that as militants continue to sneak into Indian territory following offensive against them by Royal Bhutan Army in the Himalayan kingdom, two of them surrendered to Darrang district police. According to Darrang superintendent of police Izaz Hazarika, the two self-styled ?sergeant? Paresh Boro of NDFB and ?corporal? Nakul Nath of the ULFA surrendered last night at Mangaldoi with one Chinese pistol. The duo had managed to slip in from Bhutan where they were facing a torrid time from the RBA which is continuing its relentless operation to flush out the ultras. The SP said strict security had been maintained on the border with Bhutan and even citizens from this side were being interrogated as they may be sheltering the fleeing ultras.