In wake of repeated serial blasts, engineered by ULFA, in Assam and increased militant activity, Centre has decided to withdraw its militant surrender policy and go after the Bangladesh based undergrounds groups after the Lok Sabha elections.

The decision of not encouraging any more militant surrenders in the North-East was taken by the high powered delegation comprising Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhran, Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta during its two day (April 7-8) tour of militant hit Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

During the trip, the trio interacted with Army’s Tezpur Commander Lt General K.T. Parnaik, Dimapur Commander Lt Gen R.K. Loomba, Assam Chief Secretary P.C. Sarma, Director General of Police G.M. Srivastava and top Intelligence Bureau and RA&W officials.

Visiting Assam a day after the Gauwhati serial blasts that left eight dead and scores injured, Assam DGP G.M. Srivastava, known for his tough reputation, told the visiting bureaucrats that the government policy of militant surrenders was not working as there was hardly any weapons being surrendered. The top police officials made it clear that surrender without weapons was mere rest and recreation for the militants as they went back to insurgency in an year or two. They pointed fingers at the Army for routinely encouraging such surrenders.

However, Corps Commander Parnaik made it clear that he had not taken any surrenders since he had taken over at Tezpur. It was only then decided that both the Army and the State police should go after the militant groups particularly ULFA after the Lok Sabha elections are over and withdraw the policy of surrenders.

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