NDFB (S) Leaders Saoraigwra, Bidai & Batha Absent During Govt's Arms Laying Down Ceremony

Guwahati, January 23, 2019:

The three topmost leaders of the National Democratic Front of Boroland's Saoraigwra faction (or NDFB-S) -- B Saoraigwra, G Bidai, and M Batha -- were glaringly absent during the Assam Government's arms laying down ceremony held earlier today in Guwahati that saw as many as 644 militants belonging to as many as 8 militant organizations lay down their arms.

Clarifying this, the Assam Police sent out an official statement which read: "These groups are not related to ceasefire of NDFB (S) Saoraigwram, Bidai, or Batha. No one from recent ceasefire cadres took part in Todays Arms laying ceremony."

ALSO READ: Historic Day for Assam: CM Sonowal after 644 Rebels Surrender Arms

"Today 644 cadres of 8 militant organisations who surrendered/ came to unilateral ceasefire in 2019 and prior to it have formally laid down arms in a formal ceremony in presence of Chief Minister of Assam, Chief Secretary, Assam, DGP, Assam, GOC 4 corp and other senior officers in Guwahati. They will now be rehabilitated as per govt norms", the Assam Police's statement further informed.

It is worth mentioning that the NDFB(S) vice-president and military leader G Bidai along with his deputy Batha, had returned to the mainland on Wednesday amid much fanfare. In Gossaigaon under Kokrajhar district, the insurgent leaders were welcomed by legions of supporters who ushered them in with ceremonial aronais (traditional Bodo scarf).

ALSO READ: Dimapur Railway Station Gets a Facelift, Flaunts Airport-like Look

Besides the two top leaders, 600 cadres of the outfit also came overground on Wednesday, but their glaring absence from the ceremony has raised several questions.

Earlier, NDFB (S) president B Saoraigwra and general secretary BR Ferrenga, along with around 50 cadres of the militant outfit, recently returned to the mainstream. Saoraigwra later signed a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the Assam Government, wherein it was decided that the NDFB (S) would shun all violent activities and join the peace process.

During the agreement signing, BR Ferrenga and two mediators -- Rajkumar Prithviraj Narayan Dev Mech and Thulunga Basumatary -- were also present.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.