26 ULFA militants surrender in Assam

As many as twenty six militants of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have surrendered before the Red Horn Division of the Indian Army in Assams Baksa District.

Baksa (Assam), June 25 : As many as twenty six militants of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have surrendered before the Red Horn Division of the Indian Army in Assam's Baksa District.

According to officials, the ULFA rebels surrendered before Major General Chander Prakash, General Officer Commanding (GOC) at a surrender ceremony organised at Tamulpur on Tuesday.

Militants surrendered their arms and ammunition and got a rose flower in return at the function.

The army has now decided to provide vocational training to the surrendered militants.

"We train them so that they don't get re-circulated into the system. The aim is to provide them vocational training so that they have some sort of job to do after this," said Chander Prakash.The surrendered rebels said that wanted peace to prevail in the state and called for talks to be held between the Government and the ULFA.

"I think whosoever joined its good that they have surrendered now. There is no point infighting with the Government," said Jahangir Sarkar, one of the ULFA militants who surrendered.

The ULFA is among more than two-dozen armed groups in the region, either fighting for an independent homeland, or for more political autonomy.

The rebels accuse New Delhi of plundering the region's mineral and forest resources, neglecting the local economy and giving nothing in return.

The Peoples' Consultative Group (PCG) was constituted by the ULFA in 2005 to carry on peace talks with the Central Government.

Three rounds of talks were held before negotiations broke down last year.

The ULFA has been fighting for Assamese independence since 1979. They have accused non-Assamese of plundering the state's resources and spoiling its culture.

Over 20,000 people have been killed in ULFA attacks.

ANI