Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Dimapur/Guwahati, March 31 2010:
There have been reports which say that twelve Naga militants surrendered in Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday by laying down arms before authorities in the Assam Rifles.
However, NSCN-IM has refuted to the claim of the Assam Rifles while terming it as 'staged managed'.
According to defence sources, six of the militants were from the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim/Nagaland (NSCN) while the remaining six were from the rival Khaplang faction of the NSCN.
The militants deposited six pistols, one carbine, five rifles, five grenades, one IED and four detonators.
The surrender took place at Khonsa in Arunachal Pradesh.
In 2009, 51 militants had surrendered here before the authorities.
Felicitating the militants for joining the national mainstream, Brigadier J.S Negi, Commander, 25 Sector Assam Rifles; said the militants' decision to surrender was an "indicator that operations by security forces coupled with psychological initiatives are bearing dividends".
The Brigadier added that the militants would now be imparted vocational training at Dinjan in Assam.
On the other hand, NSCN-IM's Ceasefire Monitoring Cell convenor Phumthing Shimrang informed Newmai News Network that the reports of NSCN-IM surrendering before the Assam Rifles were stage-managed.
He said that there have been numerous complaints from the people that the Assam Rifles have been picking up NSCN-IM cadres in Arunachal Pradesh and later produced them as 'surrendered' cadres.
Meanwhile, it may be mentioned that both NSCN (Isak-Muivah) and NSCN (Khaplang) have signed separate ceasefire agreements with the Centre.
The NSCN (Isak-Muivah) has held over sixty rounds of talks with the Centre but a solution continues to elude the Nagas.