Army ropes in family to 145;rein in146; ULFA

While nothing has changed drastically on the ground, Army officers insist that a new policy, in which the family members of ULFA cadre appeal for peace, is paying dividends. They say that while only 40 ULFA men had laid down their arms till October, the new policy had led to a deluge of surrenders.

8220;Under the new initiative, parents and family members of ULFA have been making emotional appeals in these areas asking their sons and daughters to join the mainstream. At the same time, they are under constant pressure from the security forces,8221; a senior Army officer said.

While nearly 50 militants have surrendered since the start of this month, at least 10 have been killed in encounters with security forces. Twelve have been arrested from different parts of the state. In the latest case, 14 men, mostly from the dreaded 28 Battalion of ULFA active in upper Assam, laid down their arms at Laipuli on Monday. The battalion8217;s self-styled commander, Pranjal Saikia, had surrendered earlier on October 18.

Earlier this month, 33 militants, including two women, laid down their arms. They belonged to the 709, 109 and 27 Battalions of ULFA. The recent surrenders were preceded by a series of public meetings with families of the extremists, officials say. The latest of these was organised at Sibsagar on October 15 where parents of over 30 ULFA men gathered to 8220;convey their feelings with outburst of emotions in the presence of number of civil and military dignitaries8221;. Army officers say that similar meetings were held at Dibrugarh and Laipuli.

8220;Terrorists no longer have Bhutan and Burma as safe havens and they are coming under pressure even in Bangladesh. Recent floods in the state have come as the final blow,8221; an Army officer said.