Guwahati: Nearly 7,200 insurgents have surrendered in Assam since May 2021, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed on Saturday while addressing the ceremonial laying down of weapons by former cadres of Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) at the District Sports Association ground in Haflong.

Loss of lives due to extremist violence stands at zero, a stark contrast to the tragic toll of over 400 lives two decades ago, Sarma added.

Sarma expressed hope the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) would one day drop their guns and work towards the growth and development of Assam.

In the last two and a half years, many tribal insurgent organisations of Assam have returned to their roots by giving up arms and coming forward to establish peace in the state, following a peace agreement with the Centre and the State government, he remarked

In the last two and a half years, surrendered militants have laid down 1,700 arms, he claimed.

(With UNI inputs)