Lucrative' surrender deal to N-E militants

Guwahati: The ministry of home affairs has formulated and introduced a new surrender policy to lure away the misguided youth from joining the militancy in trouble-torn areas of northeast, including Assam.

Informing that policy has proposed a fixed deposit of Rs 4 lakh and monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 to those who surrendered and an extra incentive for those with weapons, security sources said that home ministry has proposed that stipend would be paid in the bank account and fixed deposit would be handed over to the surrendered militant only after sighing of the memorandum of settlement (MoS) with respective militant outfits.

The home ministry in the new surrendered policy, designed and being implemented in Assam, has also clarified that if surrendered militant is found to have been indulging in any criminal activities before the signing of MoU, the surrendered militant will forfeit his fixed deposit.

Pointing out that earlier surrendered militants were given a stipend of Rs 3,000 and one time grant of Rs 1.5 lakh, security sources said that home ministry has also decided to send the militants, seeking to surrender without arms, to the state level screening committee which will take a decision on accepting or rejecting the surrender.

Admitting that screening committee has already been formed in Assam and many other northeastern states, security sources said that it was aimed at to discourage the “fake surrender”.

Informing that there are nearly 3,500 surrendered militants who will be benefited by new surrender policy in Assam, security sources said that a 12-member group of Kuki militant outfit has also come forward to surrender with six AK series rifles.

Asserting that new surrender policy will not only help in discouraging the fake surrender, security sources said that mandatory provision of paying the stipend in the bank account of surrendered militant would also eliminate chances of misuse of the fund. Earlier the stipend was paid in cash to the militants.

Security sources said that government has also formed a screening committee at the district and the state levels to look into withdrawal of cases pending against the surrendered militants. Clarifying that only non-heinous cases would be withdrawn, security sources said that district level screening committee comprising the DIG, SP, ADC and a legal expert would send the recommendation to the state level screening committee which will take a decision on withdrawing the non-heinous cases.

Asserting that home ministry has made it clear that heinous cases would not be taken back and militants facing criminal charges will have to face the trial, security sources said that in pursuance of the revised scheme for surrender and rehabilitation of militants in the Northeast, the Assam government has constituted a Screening Committee to examine, consider and accept the surrender of militant in Assam. The members of the committee, which will be chaired by Special Director General of Police (Special Branch) included — Deputy General Officer Commanding Headquarters 21-Mountain Division, Deputy Inspector General, Headquarter 21 Sector Assam Rifles and others.