DIPHU (KARBI ANGLONG), Dec 14 - Marking an end to its arms movement, the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) today laid down arms, vowing to contribute towards the development and peace of Karbi Anglong through political activism.
Having already made its political pursuits clear, a total of 568 members of the outfit, including 14 from the central executive committee, took part in the arms laying ceremony organised at the KASA Stadium here in the presence of Assam DGP Sankar Barua, General Officer Commanding, 4 Corps, Shakti Gurung, ADGP Khagen Sarma and Deputy Commissioner of Karbi Anglong Rakesh Kumar, among others.
The ceremony was also attended by a cross-section of people from the hill district, which turned up at the venue in large numbers.
The militant outfit, which inked the ceasefire pact with the Government of India in August 2002, declared itself disbanded taking off the camouflage fatigues later in the day to be replaced by a civil outfit.
The cache of arms and ammunition that was laid down included 85 rifles of AK series, 40 MM UBGL and five M 16 rifles, beside others.
Addressing the people of Karbi Anglong after formally pledging to abjure violence, Longsodar Senar, chairperson, UPDS, said, “It is a beginning of a new era for the people of Karbi Anglong. We are now part of a process that seeks peace and social harmony. We had our share of achievements and disappointments during our armed struggle and there is no denying that people had suffered directly or indirectly during the course of our movement. I, on behalf of the outfit, apologise for that.”
“I also want to say that the supreme sacrifice made by our cadres will not go in vain. Let us also vow that we will never allow petty ambitions and vested interests to be a stumbling block in the process of peace and development. Let us all make Karbi Anglong and our movement a success story,” Senar said.
Earlier, general secretary, of UPDS, Haren Singh Bey, while talking to reporters, said that if things went as planned, Karbi Anglong would stand at par with other districts of the State in terms of development.
“Early implementation of the clauses of the Memorandum of Settlement by the Centre and the State will be a key," Bey asserted, adding the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council election scheduled for January next year would mark the beginning of their entry in the political arena.
Shakti Gurung, GOC, 4 Corps, terming the day as historic, expressed his gratitude to the UPDS for joining the mainstream.
He also renewed his appeal to the KLNLF and the KPLT to abjure violence and contribute towards restoration of peace and development in the hill district.
Assam DGP Sankar Barua, too, reiterated the appeal and urged the other active militant outfits of the State to come to the negotiation table.
"Mizoram could be an example to follow. Come to the mainstream and be a part of the social, political and economic leadership," said Barua.
ADGP (Special Branch) Khagen Sarma also addressed the gathering.
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