MIZORAM: 114 MILITANTS GIVE UP ARMS IN ‘HOMECOMING’ CEREMONY

Two weeks after a peace accord, 114 militants of Hmar People's Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) surrendered to the Mizoram government and deposited huge cache of arms and ammunition. At the surrender ceremony, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said that after talks, the state government has reached a successful settlement with the HPC-D and the "surrendered extremists now can live a normal life with peaceful co-existence with their families and friends". "The state government would ensure successful implementation of all provisions stipulated in the bipartite accord in a phase manner," he added.

The ceremony was held at Central Training Institute in Mizoram Home Guard headquarters at Sesawng village, 39 km northeast of Aizawl. The weapons surrendered included 44 sophisticated firearms, including nine AK series rifles and two carbines, as well as nearly 3,000 rounds of ammunition and five radio sets.