NIA's 'Most Wanted' rebel Batha surrenders with 20 others in Assam

Guwahati: A dreaded most wanted rebel leader of the newly floated Bodo insurgent outfit National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB) along with 20 of his associated on Thursday surrendered with arms and ammunition in front of Assam police in Udalguri district in Lower Assam.

The National Investigation Agency had declared Batha as a most wanted and announced a bounty of Rs 10 lakh against him.

NLFB chief Batha and his associates laid down arms in the presence of Assam water resources minister Pijush Hazarika, Bodo Territorial Council Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro, Special DGP (L&W) GP Singh at Lalpani police station in Assam’s Udalguri district.

Batha, known as one of the dreaded rebel leaders, floated NLFB one year after the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) was disbanded after the signing of the third Bodo peace accord in January 2020.

“They have made their homecoming today. M Batha alias Bindo Mushahary, top leader B Bidai and B Birkhang besides 20 other rebels have returned to the mainstream. The remaining cadres of the outfit will also join them soon,” BTC CEM Pramod Boro said. (UNI)