ULFA-I’s key commander, Dohotia, surrendered along with his PSO

Dibrugarh: ULFA (I) self-styled Major General Arunoday Dohotia alias Bijit Gogoi, and his PSO, Franchis Axom, surrendered early this morning at Pangsau Pass in Arunachal Pradesh along the Indo-Myanmar border.

Security sources confirmed that both men surrendered voluntarily to troops of the Assam Rifles deployed in the area.

The surrender comes at a time when security forces have intensified operations along the porous Indo-Myanmar border to curb the movement of insurgent cadres and disrupt the remaining operational capabilities of ULFA-I.

Dohotia is a close aide of ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah and a member of the outfit’s military leadership.

He has been instrumental in sending the faction’s communications, including e-mails and video clips of Paresh Baruah, to media houses.

Dahotia has been a high-value target for Assam Police and central agencies.

He has been involved in several major militant activities.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has identified him as a key conspirator behind a series of grenade attacks on Army camps in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia and Jorhat districts in 2023 and 2024.

Security officials described Sunday’s development as a major success in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign in the Northeast, particularly against the dwindling hardcore faction of ULFA-I that continues to oppose the peace process.

While several top ULFA leaders and hundreds of cadres have laid down arms and joined the mainstream in recent years following peace accords, the Paresh Baruah-led ULFA-I has remained adamant against talks with the government.

Authorities have not disclosed whether Dahotia’s surrender was part of any negotiated arrangement or if he will be eligible for rehabilitation benefits under the existing surrender policy.

Further details are awaited as investigating agencies prepare to question the surrendered commander about ULFA-I’s current strength, hideouts across the border, and funding networks.