12 UG cadres surrender in Churachandpur
Source: The Sangai Express

Lamka, October 26 2009: Twelve cadres of various armed group surrendered before the Army at Hqtrs Veng here today, the battalion headquarters of 3 (Naga Hills) Assam Rifles in a simple ceremony attended by GOC, 57 Mountain Division Maj Gen Shakti Gurung and other officials from civil and security administration.

The cadres who laid down their arms to the GOC today include five cadres of KYKL-MDF, four from UKLA (MC), two from the splinter group of DHD (James) and one from PREPAK.

Another cadre from the UPPK, who had earlier surrendered along-side with cadres of the Sinlung Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) also made a ceremonial surrender to the GOC on the occasion.

Goc 57 Mountain Division Maj Gen Shakti Gurung at the surrender ceremony of cadres of different armed groups on Oct 26

The GOC in his speech, moments after symbolically receiving the surrendered cadres, assured them (UGs) that he would approach the State Government so that avenues and assistance are provided to them when they join the mainstream society and earn a respectful livelihood.

He also hailed the efforts of 27 Sector AR, and the 3 (NH) AR.

Later talking to the press on the sidelines of the ceremony, Maj Gen Shakti Gurung said the Army had toiled for bringing today's surrenderees' back to the mainstream.

It took the Army a lot of motivation, sustained efforts and deliberated talks to bring about the surrender, he said.

The GOC's admission that all talks and negotiations for the surrender occurred within the soil of Churachandpur, underlined the fact that this southern district of the state remained a hot bed of breeding ground for armed splinter groups.

Six four cadres of the SPLA, and 19 from the DHD (J) group had earlier surrendered to the Army based here though the formal ceremony took place somewhere else.

Today's surrender ceremony, according to an army statement circulated to the press also marked the day the entire splinter groups of the DHD (J) have been brought overground.

Their leader along with five other cadres had surrendered in Guwahati on October 21, it said.

Similar was the fate for UKLA (MC), it added, as four had surrendered today while two were already slained and the rest merged with the ZRA.

Arms and ammunition, both handed-over by the surrendered cadres and recovered by security forces after disclosure by the cadres were displayed today.

It included one 9 mm pistol from UPPK; two 9 mm pistols from UKLA (MC); three rifles of M16, AK 47, and AK 56 series, along with 250 live bullets, one lethod bomb and 50 gelatine sticks from KYKL-MDF; one 9mm pistol from PREPAK; and another 9mm pistol, one Rocket Launcher and two rockets from DHD (J) .