Guwahati: At least 1500 cadres of four factions of the NDFB (National Democratic Front of Bodoland) laid down arms before Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, along with 130 weapons, at a surrender ceremony here in Guwahati.
The arms laying ceremony by the members of the NDFB groups was held at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital auditorium at Bhangagarh. Besides CM, state finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Police Chief Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta along with others were present at the event.
The NDFB factions, that signed a peace treaty with the government on Monday, will give up arms as a part of the agreement of the Bodo Accord. This will be the second surrender ceremony in the state within a week.
The four factions of the NDFB, which signed the pact, are led by Ranjan Daimary, Govinda Basumatary, Dhiren Boro and B. Saoraigwra.
Though three factions of the outfit were already in peace talks with the government, the lone faction, led by B. Saoraigwra, came overground on January 11 and signed a ceasefire agreement, paving the way for the recently signed Bodo Accord.
According to the treaty, the criminal cases registered against members of the NDFB factions for non-heinous crimes shall be withdrawn by the state government, according to the procedure established by law. However, criminal cases registered in connection with heinous crimes shall be reviewed case-by-case according to the existing policy.
