United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)-Independent (I) commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah in his reaction to the surrender has clarified that Drishti Rajkhowa, the outfit’s deputy commander-in-chief, surrendered with due permission from the rebel group.
In a swift and well-planned operation that was executed by the Indian Army Intelligence Agencies at Meghalaya-Assam- Bangladesh Border, ULFA (I) leader, SS Colonel Drishti Rajkhowa surrendered on Wednesday.
Inside story: How Military Intelligence trailed ULFA’s Drishti Rajkhowa for 9 years and ensured surrender. In numerous conversations, officer managed to soften rigid view of insurgent and convinced him about how insurgency is the biggest hurdle in the path of prosperity of Assam. pic.twitter.com/A2CjZoylCE
— Nandan Pratim Sharma Bordoloi (@NANDANPRATIM) November 12, 2020
He was along with four other accomplices SS Corporal Vedanta, Yasin Asom, Ropjyoti Asom, and Mithun Asom, too surrendered with a huge cache of arms.
In the telephonic conversation with a leading news daily, Baruah added that Rajkhowa aka Manoj Rabha was allowed to surrender on humanitarian grounds as his wife is diagnosed with cancer. He added that Rajkhowa has contributed a lot to ULFA (I) and will remain grateful for his contribution.
Also Read: ULFA (I) Number 2 Drishti Rajkhowa surrenders in Meghalaya
The operation for his surrender was based on confirmed inputs, which according to the Ministry of Defence is a result of relentless pursuit over the last nine months.
The Defence ministry added that Rajkhowa has long been on the wanted list of the ULFA insurgents responsible for their activities in lower Assam. “His surrender is a major blow to the underground organisation and heralds a new dawn ushering in peace in the region,” stated the release.
Rajkhowa is an RPG expert and is also a central committee member of the extremist group. Baruah promoted Rajkhowa to the position of deputy-commander-in-chief in November 2011. As recently as March 2020, Rajkhowa had been suspected to be a part of a shoot-out with the police team at Bolbokgre village in South Garo Hills, Meghalaya. The intense fire exchange between the police team comprised South Garo Hills force and SF-10 commandoes lasted for more than 30 minutes.
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