ITANAGAR, Sept 4 � At least 109 militants of different groups surrendered in Arunachal Pradesh in the past eight years along with a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, Home Minister Tako Dabi informed the Assembly today.
Most of the militants surrendered in troubled Tirap and Changlang districts before the army and para military forces since 2003, he said.
Altogether 76 rebels of both the factions of NSCN along with 14 ULFA cadres and 19 of ANLA surrendered during the period, Dabi said in reply to a question raised by NCP member Bamang Phelix and Trinamool Congress member Kamthok Lowang.
The surrendered militants deposited 56 pistols, 44 revolvers, 23 AK 47 rifles, 26 Chinese .22 rifles, 10 carbines, 9 SBBL guns, 4 M-2 US carbines, 2 SLRs, 2 M-21 rifles, one each vintage assault rifle and .303 rifle, 15 grenades and a large quantity of explosives and ammunition.
Responding to a supplementary question, Dabi said that in Tirap and Changlang districts, both factions of the NSCN were active, while reports of presence of ULFA activists in Changlang, Lower Dibang Valley district, Lohit and East Siang districts were available with the State Government.
�NDFB militants from Assam are also active in West Kameng, East Kameng, Papum Pare, Lower Subansiri, West Siang, East Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts,� he said.
He said the State Government was unable to provide rehabilitation package to any surrendered militant so far.
�Rehabilitation package requires suitable organisations for training of those who surrendered in different trades. The State lacks capacity, requisite infrastructure and manpower to impart training in trades to surrendered ultras,� he added. � PTI
