About 80 underground Naga cadres have so far laid down arms before the Army in the current year. They deposited three US carbines, one AK-56 rifle, one AK-47 rifle, two MM automatic rifles, one machine gun (US), one M-22 rifle, two 303 rifle with radio set and assorted ammunition.

The surrendered militants have been reinstated into Assam Rifles and a few have been given employment in various tea gardens and factories. Rs 1, 04,418 were given as compensation to them,.

Speaking at a function where 11 underground cadres surrendered, Colonel Vikkal Sahani, Commandant, 16 Assam Rifles, said the main reason for the surrender was the realization of futility while working for the militant outfits. Brigadier N. N. Madappa, also of Assam Rifles, described the event as home-coming of the misguided youth and lauded the determination and courage shown by the cadres. The people of Nagaland had undergone violence and misery for half a century and time has come for all sections of the Naga society to persuade the disillusioned youth to give up life of violence and join the mainstream, he added.