GUWAHATI: The National Liberation Front of Boroland (NLFB) C-in-C M Batha alias Binode Mushahary, chairman B Bungtigwra along with 21 cadres of the outfit returned to the national mainstream in a programme held at Lalpani police outpost in Udalguri district on Thursday.
The programme was attended by water resource minister Pijush Hazarika and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Pramod Boro and special DGP GP Singh.
The militants also laid down 4 AK-47 series rifles, 3 handmade guns and several items before the police during the ceremony.
The NLFB was formed in February this year somewhere inside Bhutan.
The outfit was involved in a number of cases of firing and kidnapping in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) during assembly elections.
The NLFB was run under the leadership of chairman B Bungtigwra, vice chairman B Boko and C-in-C M Batha.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has declared M Batha as most wanted and announced Rs.10 lakh as reward for those who will inform about the whereabouts of M Batha.
The group of militants came out from the jungle of Shikaridanga along the Assam- Arunachal Pradesh border of Udalguri district to lay down their arms on Thursday.
All cadres were felicitated with traditional aronai and phulam gamocha on the occasion.
Batha, who was previously a member of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).
Batha joined the insurgent group in 1996 and was trained in Bhutan. Later, he climbed to become the organisation’s top member.
Batha was known as the bomb specialist because of his excellent bomb-making and planting skills in the organisation.
Notably, the Assam government had announced a special rehabilitation package for the surrendered cadres in the annual budget for 2021-22 for rehabilitation of the former NDFB members.
“BTR starts walking on the path of progress with a greater vision. I welcome the NLFB’s decision to walk on the path of peace in BTR”, BTC chief Pramod Boro said, adding that the homecoming of NLFB chief M Batha and all top leaders of the organization is truly a historic moment for BTR & its people”.
Boro also extended his gratitude towards Assam chief minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma for guiding the mission with a greater vision to create an environment of peace and integrity in the society.
