Assam: In the Hailakandi district of Assam, 1,179 Bru militants of two organizations surrendered. Additional Director General of Police (Special Branch) Hiren Chandra Nath said on Monday said that the militants belonging to the United Democratic Liberation Front of Barak Valley (UDLF-BV) and Bru Revolutionary Army of Union (BRAU) had surrendered voluntarily. They formally laid down their arms before Assam Assembly Speaker Vishwajit Daimary and state Water Resources Minister Piyush Hazarika.

A total of 350 firearms including 18 AK rifles, and M16 rifles were also handed over to the police along with more than 400 cartridges. Both the outfits were primarily active in the areas along the Assam-Mizoram border. The official said that the peace process with both these groups has been going on since 2017. 

“The peace process with these two groups had been underway since 2017. There were some differences but under the guidance of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, we could convince them to come to the negotiating table”, he said.

“Other formalities and rehabilitation process will begin soon. We will take the process forward in such a manner that no new militant group is formed in the area in the future”, the senior police officer further added. Officials said that these militants had already signed a ceasefire with the security forces but later surrendered.