Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha
As many as 46 members of surrendered tribal militant group All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) laid down their weapons in Assam’s Sonitpur district on Sunday.
AANLA, formed in 2006, claims to fight to protect the rights of the tribal culture of plantation workers in Assam.
The group is among eight tribal militant organisations in Assam that signed a peace agreement with the government in September last year.
Months before signing the agreement on September 15 in New Delhi in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, 13 members of the outfit surrendered to Karbi Anglong.
The former militants deposited eight pistols, six rifles and ammunition at a ceremony in Dhekiajuli on Sunday in the presence of senior police officials, including the additional superintendent of police (crime) and the deputy superintendent of police (border).
Former AANLA president D Nayak said they surrendered with a belief that the government will protect the rights of the tribals in tea estates, and ensure their development in line with the peace agreement signed last year.
“Our armed struggle aimed to fulfil the rights of indigenous people. We signed the peace agreement after several years of negotiations. We are aiming to return to the mainstream and today’s weapons surrender is a step closer to this,” Nayak told media persons.
