Tezpur (Assam): The personal bodyguard of the ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) commander-in-chief, Paresh Barua, surrendered on March 13 before the military commander of Unified Structure and GOC of Gajraj Corps, Lt Gen Mohinder Singh.

Kamal Gogoi alias Bhaity Gogoi alias Nazrul Islam was the self-styled commander of ULFA's 28 Battalion from May 1996 besides being the personal bodyguard of Barua who is also the camp commander of the banned outfit's headquarters in Bhutan.

Gogoi had joined ULFA in October 1985 and was trained in weapons, communications and explosives in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before escaping to Bhutan in 1998.

Welcoming Gogoi back to the mainstream, the GOC said, ''ULFA and NDFB (National Democratic Front of Bodoland) have lost their local support and today the common man is determined to put an end to violence and destruction.''

He said that ever since anti-insurgency was launched in Assam, security forces have eliminated 1,540 cadres, apprehended 12,000 and 3,500 others surrendered before the Army.

Speaking on the occasion, the surrendered militant said that there was a difference of opinion regarding talks among the top ULFA brass with its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa in favour of it while the commander-in-chief Paresh Barua opposed it.

PTI