Forces seek schemes for Assam youths who give up arms

GUWAHATI: Security agencies engaged in counter-insurgency operations in Assam want the state government to launch development schemes to engage youth who are abandoning insurgency and returning to the mainstream society.
A senior army official, who does not want to be named, told ET: “Insurgency in Assam is at its lowest ebb. Several youths have surrendered and are willing to join the mainstream. However, there are not enough schemes or projects to get them engaged.”

The officer said he had been telling the Assam government to devise schemes “to give meaningful engagement” to former militants. “Once engaged, these former militants will not think of going back to jungles,” he added.

Several militants have surrendered after Myanmar launched an offensive on north-eastern rebels who often escape to that country, the officer said, adding: “In April this year, following the offensive in Myanmar, around 20 cadres of the anti-talk ULFA and the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) have surrendered.”

The Indian Army in a statement recently said three militants belonged to the Songbijit faction of the NDFB were caught by village guards of Upper Dan in Nagaland’s Tuensang District. There is a surrender-cum-rehabilitation scheme in place for north-eastern states since 1998. The scheme is to wean away misguided youth and those who have strayed into the fold of militancy and found themselves trapped in there. It seeks to ensure that the militants who have surrendered do not find it attractive to return to militancy