Guwahati: Altogether 70 militants belonging to the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) surrendered before the Army in Assam's Nalbari district on October 17, official sources said in Guwahati.

The militants surrendered to General Officer in Commanding, Gajraj Corps Lt Gen Mohinder Singh at a function organised at Tamulpur.

Among the surrendered, 40 belong to ULFA, including a self-styled lieutenant and six sergeants and corporals, 18 of the NDFB, including a lieutenant and four sergeants and 12 others belonging to various other outfits.

The militants, led by ULFA's dreaded Enigma unit leader Hiren Barman, also deposited about 50 assorted weapons, including several AK-56 and AK-47 rifles, carbines, .303 rifles, 12 bore rifles, pistols, revolvers, Chinese grenades and explosives.

Addressing the gathering, Lt Gen Singh lauded the decision of the militants to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream and also complimented their parents for motivating them to surrender.

He further said that the hard earned money of innocent people was being forcibly collected and siphoned off to foreign countries so that the leaders could enjoy a luxurious life while the cadres bore all the hardships.

PTI