Top ULFA (I) leader Drishti Rajkhowa surrenders in Meghalaya

Drishti Rajkhowa, the second-in-command of militant group ULFA (Independent) surrendered in Meghalaya. Rajkhowa is currently under the custody of the Army intelligence and is being brought to Assam, according to government sources.

New Delhi: In a swift and well planned operation executed by the Indian Army Intelligence Agencies at Meghalaya-Assam- Bangladesh Border, dreaded hardcore ULFA(I) leader, SS Col Drishti Rajkhowa along with four accomplices SS Corporal Vedanta, Yasin Asom, Ropjyoti Asom and Mithun Asom, surrendered, with a huge quantity of arms on Wednesday.

Rajkhowa is currently under the custody of the Army intelligence and is being brought to Assam, government sources said.

Top ULFA (I) leader Drishti Rajkhowa surrenders in Meghalaya

The operation was based on confirmed inputs, which was a result of relentless pursuit over the last nine months.

He is known to be a close confidant of Paresh Baruah, the so-called 'commander-in-chief' of United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent).

The sources said Rajkhowa was based in Bangladesh till recently and came to Meghalaya few weeks ago due to serious health issues.

The ULFA (I) has been demanding an independent state of Assam. The government had banned the outfit in 1990.

Drishti Rajkhowa has long been in the wanted list of the ULFA insurgents responsible for their activities in lower Assam. His surrender is a major blow to the underground organisation and heralds new dawn ushering in peace in the region.

By this operation, Indian Army again reaffirmed, that at all times, it remains committed in maintaining peace and normalcy in the region.

With Agency inputs