Itanagar: At least twelve cadres of both the factions of NSCN, operating in Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, have surrendered before the 19 Assam Rifles (AR).
The cadres surrendered on Wednesday in a simple ceremony.
AR sources informed that one of the cadres who surrendered belonged to the neighbouring Mon district of Nagaland but was operating in Kanubari circle of the Tirap district.
In 2009, on three earlier occasions, a total of 51 cadres had surrendered at Khonsa. With the latest surrender the number had gone up to 62.
The cadres, six from NSCN (IM) and six from NSCN (K), surrendered with four pistols, one 9 mm Carbine, two 22 Chinese Rifles, a single barrel rifle, five grenades, one IED and four detonators.
Brigadier J S Negi, Commander 25 Sector Assam Rifles of DAH Division, presided over the function attended by Col Naveen, Cmd. 19 Assam Rifles, Madhup Tewari, SSP Tirap and W Lowang, DC Tirap.
Brigadier Negi felicitated the cadres for their bold and wise decision adding that the return of a number of cadres was an indicator that the operation by the security forces are bearing fruits.
Col Naveen pointed that the entire process of motivating the cadres for surrender has been a joint effort of the force and the district police. (UNI)
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On the other side NSCN (IM) refutes surrender of its cadres
Source: NNN
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.
