1100 cadres of BRAU and UDLF-BV surrender arms in presence of Biswajit Daimary and Pijush Hazarika; Historical Moment for Barak Valley

This is a historic moment for Barak Valley! 1100 cadres of two militant outfits including BRAU and UDLF-BV will surrender their arms in a ceremony in the presence of the Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly, Biswajit Daimary and Cabinet Minister Pijush Hazarika. The arms surrender ceremony is being held at Katlicherra in Hailakandi today. Both militant organisations have once terrorised Barak Valley with arms to get their demands heard. After seating with the government with their demands, they agreed on a cease-fire and today they are officially entering a normal life leaving their militant past behind.

Both the United Democratic Liberation Front of Barak Valley (UDLF-BV) and the Bru Revolutionary Army (BRAU) have trained several militants with weapon training and guerrilla warfare methods. BARU had 670 trained militants who were experts at handling guns like the AK-47, M16, pistols and others. This self-styled militant organisation was formed in 2014 with the demands for the improvement of the Riyang (Bru) tribes living in different bordering areas of Assam. Until yesterday they were busy with their routine training and today all the cadres have participated in the arms-lay down ceremony at Katlicherra.

Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary and Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika will attend the arms laydown ceremony of the surrendered militant organization today. The ceremony is being held at CMHS Field Katlicherra in the Hailakandi district.

Yesterday, the Cachar Commander of the BRAU spoke to a Barak Bulletin correspondent and said, “Tomorrow we are participating in the arms laydown ceremony at Hailakandi. We have sat with the government and the cabinet at various levels and even though we agreed to a ceasefire long back, our demands have not been fulfilled yet. We have been told that only after we lay-down our arms, our demands will be fulfilled. Our demand is the development of the areas where our tribes (Riyang) reside. We still don’t have access to drinking water or all-weather roads”. All these 1100 militants will start living a normal life from today and many of them were seen happy and excited to join this new life today at the ceremony.