ULFA(I) Deputy Commander-in-Chief Drishti Rajkhowa surrenders

Following a 30-minute gun-battle, Rajkhowa gave up when he had no chance to escape.

The Police cornered him near Bolbogkre village in South Garo Hills with a team from SF-10 commandoes throwing a tight cordon around the area of the gun-battle.

Last month, Rajkhowa was spotted near Haflong when the Pakistan High Commissioner in Dhaka, Imran Siddique was apparently vacationing in a resort in that area.

However, no confirmation of the two meeting up but Indian intelligence has reported that the Pakistan defense attaché in Dhaka, Brigadier Ejaz has been setting up meetings with rebel leaders from the Northeast in recent months.

It is to be mentioned that, Ejaz is close to a local academic who edits a defense journal in a Bangladesh military college and is known for his strong Pakistani leanings and his enthusiasm for the revival of insurgencies in the Northeast.

It is said that Rajkhowa became the closest confidante of ULFA (I) military wing chief Paresh Barua after desertions from the rebel ranks left the Muttock warlord with little options but to promote him.

From being the commander of ULFA's 709 battalions operating in western Assam and Meghalaya, Dristhi was made deputy commander-in-chief.