A CORRESPONDENT
TANGLA: The NIA's most wanted militant heading the newly floated National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB) M Batha, along with 22 of his associates, surrendered before Assam Police with sophisticated arms and ammunition at Lalpool Police outpost in Udalguri district on Thursday.
The NIA had earlier announced a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on Batha. Following massive anti-insurgency operations along the Assam-Arunachal border in Udalguri district, the most wanted militant is believed to have come overground with its members. The surrendered militants — including the outfit's chief M Batha alias Binod Mushahary — were received by the Bodoland Territorial Council CEM Pramod Boro, State Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika, Chief Minister's political advisor Jayanta Malla Baruah and Special DGP (Law and Order) GP Singh.
"People's trust in the Government policies is reflected by NLFB's decision to return to the mainstream today. I welcome their homecoming. We reiterate our commitment for all-round the development of Bodoland and to protect the unique socio-cultural and political identity of the Bodo people," tweeted Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Sources said several remaining members of the outfit are likely to come overground within a week.
Pertinently, Batha was earlier a member of disbanded National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and laid down arms along with 1,615 insurgents of the NDFB in January 2020 (after the signing of the third Bodo Peace Accord). He later went underground and in March 2021, headed the NLFB. Sources said the outfit primarily attempted extortion in the Bodo belt.
Speaking to reporters, BTC chief Pramod Boro said that the surrender was a step towards making BTR free from all insurgent activities. "We are looking for 100 per cent peace in Bodoland. The last three decades have been marked by violence that has affected education, economy and development in the region," he said.
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