A total of 181 cadres of the Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) on Saturday formally surrendered and joined the mainstream, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
At an official function here, the cadres, including five women extremists, formally laid down their arms and received financial aid from Sarma.
These militants also deposited 43 arms, including eight AK-series rifles, one M-20 rifle and one M-16 rifle, 1,161 ammunition and three grenades.
“With the blessings of PM Narendra Modi, Assam ended insurgency in tribal areas in April 2023 after signing of the peace deal with the DNLA in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah,” Sarma said.
Each of the 181 surrendered cadres would receive a fixed deposit of Rs 4 lakh as a rehabilitation package, he added.
“Since May 2021, nearly 7,200 insurgents have surrendered in Assam. The number of lives lost to extremist violence stands at zero, which is a stark contrast to the tragic toll of over 400 two decades ago,” Sarma said.
Among the militants who surrendered were DNLA chairman Kharmindao Dimasa alias Etika Diphusa, commander-in-chief Naiding Dimasa alia Mushrang and general secretary Prithamjit Jidongsa alias Galao Dimasa.
The DNLA was formed under the leadership of Naisodao Dimasa and Kharmindao Dimasa in April, 2019 with around 30 cadres, and eventually its strength increased.