According to officials, two young people who were once part of the outlawed United Tani Army in Arunachal Pradesh turned themselves in to the local police on Thursday. In a significant development undertaken to curb insurgents’ influence in India’s northeastern frontier, on June 7, 2024, two active cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Under (NSCN-U) surrendered voluntarily to the security forces in the Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh. This small but tactically significant event marks another milestone in the counterinsurgency operations in the area.
State Home Minister Mama Natung, who presided over the surrender ceremony, emphasized the government’s open-door policy for those who are willing to give up violence and reintegrate into society while reiterating its strong opposition to anti-social and anti-national activities. “We are fully committed to rooting out such unlawful activities. At the same time, we continue to welcome those who wish to renounce insurgency and walk the path of peace. There are provisions in place to help them rebuild their lives with dignity,” he said.
Each participant is eligible for ₹4 lakh in financial aid after finishing the 36-month program, in addition to a ₹6,000 monthly stipend during the rehabilitation phase, he said. The minister praised the two young men for their bravery and conviction in turning themselves in and urged those who are still associated with underground organizations, especially those that operate on the opposite side of the Myanmar border, to do the same.
According to the officials, the surrender was carried out by the Army, the Assam Rifles, Police of Arunachal Pradesh administration jointly, and along with the help of some local dignitaries. These two young cadres were supposedly coerced into joining this outlawed outfit through force and ideological influence. Their return is perceived as an effect of the sustained engagement strategies and intelligence-driven outreach of the state and central forces.
After surrender, both boys underwent debriefing for the record and were handed over to their respective families in the presence of police and community representatives. The process of reintegration is to be undertaken with counselling and vocational support, and, if applicable, under requisite rehabilitation and surrender schemes laid down by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Officials emphasized that the surrender has a two-pronged effect: depleting the operational strength of the insurgent organization and sending a message to other misguided youths who may be toying with the idea of taking to militancy. “The government and the security apparatus remain committed to welcoming all those who wish to return to the path of peace and lawful citizenship,” said the army officer.
Historically, Changlang, bordering Myanmar, has been vulnerable to insurgent activity due to its strategic location and porous terrain. Among others, NSCN factions would use this region as a base for their operations and movement across the border. But sustained counterinsurgency efforts, along with community-centric confidence-building measures, have seen local support for government authorities increase dramatically over the past few years.
With the return of these two insurgents, security forces are hoping to gain further momentum in their deradicalization efforts. The civil and military authorities renewed appeals to all armed outfits in the region to embrace dialogue for peaceful and sustainable development by renouncing violence.
