Samdrup Jongkhar (Bhutan): Top ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) leader Biju Deka, alongwith 25 others, has surrendered to the Royal Bhutan Army after 30 camps of the militants came under Bhutan's control.

Yeshey Dorjee, director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the militants surrendered to the Bhutan Army yesterday and they were handed over to the Indian Army today (Dec 20, 2003).

Army sources in Tamulpur said that the militants would be handed over to the police at the Tamulpur police station tomorrow.

A "refugee camp" has also been set up near the Tamulpur police station to house women and children who were in the camps destroyed in the operation.

The Army also escorted 30 Bhutanese trucks carrying essentials to the border as supply of goods was affected by the operations in the State.

Meanwhile, the body of ULFA ideologue Bhimakanta Buragohain, fondly called "mama" by the cadres, have been handed over to the security forces and was being taken to his village Ahomgaon in Dholla town of Upper Assam's Tinsukia district.

The ULFA and NDFB (National Democratic Front of Bodoland) publicity secretaries, Mithinga Daimary and B Erakdao respectively, "majors" Bening Rabha and Rabin Neog as well as other rebels now in Indian Army custody were also likely to be handed over to the civil administration in Assam.