Another batch of the proscribed Bodo militant outfit National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB) on Tuesday came overground in western Assam’s Kokrajhar district.
A total of 21 militants including self-styled platoon commander B Jangkrikhang and top leader B. Gwswkhang of the outfit laid down arms at Singimari LP School in Tipkai under Porbhotjhora subdivision of the district
Bodo leader Prithviraj Narayan Dev Mech, who played to role of mediator in bringing the outfit to the negotiation table, was present on the occasion.
Top NLFB leader Thulunga Bssumatary, B. Bokho and M. Batha received the NLFB members at Tipkai and took them to Kokrajhar where a designated camp is being set up.
They deposited eight sophisticated arms including AK -47, AK -56 and SLRs and 10 grenades.
NLFB chief M. Batha said so far 120 members of the outfit from Kokrajhar and Chirang districts have returned to the mainstream.
He said that the remaining 200 cadres from Udalguri, Sonitpur, Biswanath and other districts will also come overground shortly.
This was the third mass surrender of NLFB militants in less than a month. The outfit’s chief M Batha along with 22 other insurgents had laid down their arms at Lalpani in Udalguri district on July 22.
Earlier, a total of 46 members of the newly formed outfit surrendered with a huge cache of arms and ammunition in two days.
Thirty-two insurgents of the outfit laid down their arms on August 8 and 14 surrendered on the previous day.