Tezpur (Assam): Forty-eight militants today (Mar 29, 2004) surrendered before security forces at the Four Corps headquarters in Assam's Sonitpur district.

The militants surrendered before the GOC Gajraj Corps, Lt Gen Anup Jamwal, and include 27 United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) militants, 19 National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and one each from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and the Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA).

The militants surrendered an assortment of ammunition, explosives, detonators and documents and were ushered into the mainstream by presenting traditional 'gamochas'.

Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen Jamwal said though the militant outfits were denying the impact of Indo-Bhutan operations on their activities, surrenders like today's reconfirmed the significant achievements of security forces.

The surrender today was significant as the General Amnesty granted to the militants by the State Government following the operations by the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) expires on March 31, he said.

Some militants were in touch with Army operatives for long and were ultimately convinced to shun the path of violence and join the peace process, Jamwal added.

Later, speaking to reporters, self-styled Lance Corporal, Harbindra Barman, a Bhutan-trained ULFA militant, said most of the militants were bitter about the lavish lifestyle of the top ULFA leaders as they made mere promises, which were not kept by them.