Date:04/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/04/stories/2005030408260300.htm

Other States - Assam

339 surrendered militants recruited by CRPF

By Sushanta Talukdar

GUWAHATI, MARCH 3. The first batch of 339 surrendered militants of the erstwhile Bodo Liberation Tigers was yesterday recruited by the Central Reserve Police Force.

The Director-General, CRPF, J.K. Sinha, handed over the recruitment letters to the former militants at a function held at the CRPF Group Centre in Ninthmile, near here.

Altogether 2,682 BLT militants laid down their arms on December 6, 2003 after the militant outfit signed a new Bodo Accord with the Centre and the Assam Government on February 10, 2003. The recruitment has been done in conformity with the peace accord.

Mr. Sinha said the recruitment would encourage other militants of the region to return to the mainstream. He told reporters that the surrendered militants would undergo the mandatory 44 months training before their deployment.

An advantage

Addressing the new recruits, he urged them to dedicate themselves to maintenance of law and order and protecting the country's sovereignty and integrity. He said the instincts of the surrendered rebels could be an added advantage for the force in counter-insurgency operations. However, the arms training which they had received as a militant was haphazard and they would be required to undergo a full training in a disciplined manner.

The Centre agreed to recruit 1,000 surrendered militants of the BLT into the CRPF, the Border Security Force and the Assam Rifles.

The president of the Ex-BLT Welfare Society, Janamohan Musahary, said that the second batch of 300 former militants would be recruited by the BSF at a function to be held in Kokrajhar on March 4. The Director-General of BSF, Ranjit Sekhar Mushahary, would hand over the recruitment letters.

Self-employment

Mr. Musahary said the welfare society had requested the CRPF to recruit all the 550 surrendered militants as assured. Also, 300 former militants would be appointed as special police officer by the Assam police. For the rehabilitation of the remaining 1,382 militants, the society has been negotiating with the Home Ministry to provide assistance for self-employment.