Guwahati(Assam), Jan 30 : Three days after signing of the historic peace accord with the between NDFB (S) and the government around 1,600 cadres of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) surrendered their arms and ammunition before Assam C M Sarbananda Sonowal at a arms – laying ceremony here today .
Welcoming the cadres to the mainstream the CM said that this type of change would encourage other militants from the state to give up arms and come overground . Among the 1600 cadres who laid down arms today 200 of them were from dreaded NDFB(S) led by B Saoraigwra which came to the mainstream just three days back.
A total of 4,800 weapons consisting of AK rifles, light-machine guns and stun guns were ceremonially received from the militants by CM Sonwal .
The CM said that a comprehensive rehabilitation policy would be formulated for providing employment opportunities to the surrendered militants who would make contribution to the nation -building .
The CM thanked PM Modi and Amit Shah his cabinet colleague Himanta Biswa Sarma and BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary for their initiative to bring peace in the Bodoland area and other parts of the state .
Three days back an accord was signed by top leaders of the four NDFB factions, the All Bodo Students” Union (ABSU ) President Promod Boro and the United Bodo Peoples Organisation (UBPO) and the government who all were demanding since a separate Bodoland state since 1970s
The NDFB were responsible for a series of violent acts in the past few decades, including the massacre of nearly 70 Adivasis in December 2014.
With the signing of the accord BTC will be strengthened with more powers with an increase of seats from present 40 to 60. and its seats will be expanded from 40 to 60.
The name of the BTAD will be changed to Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and it will have more executive, administrative, legislative and financial power and have control over 30 subjects such as education, forests, horticulture minus the police, revenue and general administration departments which would be directly under the Assam government.
