568 cadres lay down arms
DIPANKAR ROY
Lengbart Ingleng, defence secretary of the UPDS, waves the outfit’s flag during the surrender ceremony in Diphu on Wednesday.
Diphu, Dec : The barrier broke just after the sun began its descent over the Karbi Anglong Sports Association stadium here today.
Hundreds of people — men, women and children — surged to the ground as soon as the ceremony to mark the laying down of weapons by the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) cadres was over and the officials — both military and civilian — had left.
Eighteen years after they, most of them, at least, had found meaning and shelter in the deep jungles of Karbi Anglong district and even beyond, they returned amidst their own, to the mainstream today.
No one made any effort to stop the tears that flowed down their cheeks freely — neither the battle hardened cadres nor the people — as they hugged each other, some fiercely, as if making up for lost time.
“I am so happy,” said Preeti Teronpi. The pause follows in quick time. “These are tears of both sorrow and joy; joy because we have come back to our families and sorrow because we have left another (UPDS),” she said, dressed in battle fatigues and a new gamocha around her neck like several hundred of her male counterparts.
Munsin Hanse, son of UPDS deputy commander-in-chief, at the surrender ceremony in Diphu on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos
Then came the band and the musicians and the celebrations began. The musician emerged from the shell of the militant to add his voice to the band’s singers; Vojaru Mukrang, joint secretary, political affairs, who had shed tears unabashedly some minutes ago surrounded by his people was now singing to them with gay abandon .
Kachesong pensi kelong; MoS, MoS kachetok aloh along; puani arni penkachesong; lahenlo kemang ason; arjatphipsi dolang hemprek kemang, the song went, meaning the struggle has achieved something but there is still a long way to go till statehood is achieved.
Before the tears and the music had come the apology.
“We are fully conscious of the fact that every armed struggle has collateral damage and criminal tendencies that negatively impact society and the UPDS movement is no exception to the rule. There is no denying the fact that traders, government functionaries and even innocent individuals have had to suffer immensely because of our movement. It is, therefore, my solemn duty, on behalf of my organisation, to apologise for the pain caused by us intentionally or unintentionally… from today onwards, we pledge to stand by you and make Karbi Anglong a safer and better place to live in,” said UPDS chairman Longsodar Senar, addressing the people at the weapons laying down ceremony.
Senar recalled that they had embraced armed struggle to rescue the people from “oppression and neglect, to fight inequality and injustice”.
Defending the memorandum of settlement signed with the government on November 25, he said there was no reason to “grieve or grumble” just because it was not named “autonomous state” and instead, all should work to ensure its clauses were implemented sincerely.
While the arms were laid down symbolically only by some of the leaders, led by the chairman, the disbanding of the UPDS as slated did not take place.
Mukrang said the organisation would hold its last general council tomorrow and then announce the disbanding. “Nothing ceremonial. We will just issue a statement,” he said.
The UPDS handed over assorted weapons numbering 177 and ranging from the favourite of militants and security personnel alike, the AK series rifle (85), to a universal machine gun and a rocket launcher.
As for those who joined the mainstream today, there were 568 of them, including the top leadership and the cadres that included 22 women; the ranks ranged from colonel to lieutenant.
Among those present were Assam director-general of police Sankar Barua, GOC 4 Corps, Lt Gen. Shakti Gurung, and additional DGP (special branch) Khagen Sarma, besides other senior military, police and civilian officials.
Pointing at the uniqueness of Karbi Anglong, Khagen Sarma said the district has or has had the presence of several militant outfits, including Ulfa, erstwhile BLT, Kuki groups and others. “Hopefully, after the UPDS, others will also come forward,” he said.
Among the invitees of the UPDS was Niranjan Hojai, commander-in-chief of the DHD (J), from the adjoining Dima Hasao district.
“We are hoping we can also sign an accord soon,” he told The Telegraph. “Things are moving in the right direction,” he added. The DHD (J) has already laid down arms and has since been in talks with the government.
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