Reported by Avik Chakraborty
Dibrugarh: Two active members of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) surrendered to security forces at Pangsau Pass in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district on the night of May 5.
The surrendered individuals have been identified as 31-year-old Ashok Sonowal alias Lekang Asom, a self-styled Corporal originally from Mahadevpur, Arunachal Pradesh, and 31-year-old Biplav Buragohain alias Nipen Asom, a self-styled Lance Corporal from Dhemaji.
The duo reportedly deserted the ULFA-I Joint General Headquarters (JGH) located at Ranu village in the Pangmi area of Myanmar on May 3.
To reach the Pangsau security post, they navigated through the dense and treacherous terrain of the Indo-Myanmar border on foot for two days before surrendering.
Security officials have hailed the development as a sign of the outfit’s weakening internal morale. A security official stated that this move reflects the sustained pressure maintained on the ULFA-I network and signals that cadres are increasingly choosing peace over armed conflict.
The official added that the door remains open for others wishing to return to the mainstream.
Pangsau Pass has long served as a sensitive transit point for insurgent activity.
Authorities have commenced questioning both Sonowal and Buragohain to extract critical data regarding the group’s current operational strength, leadership hierarchy, and movement patterns along the border.
An active cadre of ULFA-I, on Wednesday (May 6), was apprehended along with arms and ammunition at Palengi under Demow police station in Assam’s Sivasagar district.
The ULFA-I cadre has been identified as Biren Chetia alias Rontu Asom.
Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Senior Superintendent of Police Papari Chetia raided a residence in Dhyanpathar village in Palengi, where the operative was hiding.
Police investigations revealed that Rontu Asom had recently entered Assam from a camp in Myanmar with the intention of carrying out subversive activities.
The ULFA-I cadre has been linked to a previous deadly grenade blast in Demow that claimed a life several years ago.
Meanwhile, security forces have been taking all kinds of steps to help insurgents from the Northeast return to the mainstream.
“So far, many Northeast rebels and cadres of ULFA-I have returned to their homes to join the mainstream. They have left the path of violence. Actually, most of the cadres belonging to the various rebel groups of the Northeast joined the groups after they were brainwashed by the top leaders. But now, they have realised this and are returning to the mainstream,” said a senior police official.