In a major breakthrough against insurgency, Drishti Rajkhowa aka Manoj Rabha, the deputy-commander-in-chief of ULFA (I), surrendered in Meghalaya on Wednesday. The senior ULFA member is an RPG expert and is also a close confidant to Paresh Baruah, the commander-in-chief of ULFA. 

Meghalaya Police escorted the most wanted elusive Ulfa (I) leader Dristi Rajkowa, who surrendered before the Army at Dilsengre village in South Garo Hills. Rajkowa had crossed over from Gaobari village from Bangladesh to surrender. Superintendent of Police, East Garo Hills Bruno Sangma said that the Deputy Commander in Chief of Ulfa (I) had revealed that due to heavy operations in Bangladesh against insurgents they had fled and contacted the army officials to surrender. Sangma also said that Rajkowa revealed that they had recently escaped police encounters from Bolbokgre village in South Garo Hills. Rajkowa has been very close to GNLA and was instrumental to unleash terror during the peak of GNLA outfit in Garo Hills between 2014-2017.

“Based on source information about Rajkowa surrendering before the Army, the Meghalaya police put up a strong naka at different vulnerable points and at around 6:30 pm this evening two vehicles were intercepted at Nongal,” the police chief said, while informing that along with Rajkowa, four others Ulfa (I) militants were identified.

Sangma said that they were traveling in two vehicles bearing Assam registration number AS 01 AK 9102 and AS 01 EA 4659. The other members are – Yashin Ali aka Axom, 25 of Lakhipur, Rup Iyoti Rabha aka Lombu 25, from Krisnai, Babul Rabha aka Babul, 22 from Goalpara, Rahul Hazarika aka Laden, 27 from Moran. Police during their verification found arms and ammunition from their possession – AK-81 (1 nos), 9 mm pistol (two nos), AK-81 ammo (90 rounds), 9 mm ammo (9 rounds) and .32 ammo (8 rounds).