GUWAHATI: Over 1000 cadres of at least five militant outfits including top militant leader IK Songbijit laid down their arms before the chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday at a function in the city.

Songbijit, a most wanted ultra, is the chief of the People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK) and he was the former C-in-C of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB). however, after the Ranjan Doimary- led faction decided to join suspension of operation agreement, Songbijit, being a Karbi, was sidelined by the new leadership of the then anti-talk faction B Saoraigwra. Songbilit later raised a new Karbi outfit under name of PDCK.

Besides PDCK, the other militant groups who also joined the mainstream were Karbi Longri N.C. Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT), United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA) and Kuki Liberation Front (KLF).

Hiren Nath, additional director general of police (special branch) said, “At least 1040 cadres of these five militant groups have laid down their arms today. They have deposited some 338 firearms and explosives along with some 11,000 ammunition.”

The firearms included sophisticated weapons like AK series rifles, LMG, M16 and others.

Last week, declaring ‘Unilateral Ceasefire’ prior to laying down of arms, PDCK submitted a memorandum to Union home minister Amit Shah demanding an autonomous state for the Karbi tribal community. They claimed that it is only the ‘viable’ solution towards a harmonious coexistence between the hill tribes and the plain people. The memorandum also called for social justice for Karbis with other tribes in the plain districts of the state and sought measures to preserve and develop Karbi language, custom and culture.

Shah is slated to declare the signing of a peace accord with the groups in a mass rally at Dengaon in Karbi Anglong on February 25.

Read more : No plans for lockdown; Himanta Biswa Sarma