NOT POSSIBLE TO OPERATE IN CHINA WITHOUT SOVEREIGN SUPPORT

Drishti Rajkhowa alias Manoj Rabha deputy commander in chief, United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), and confidant of Paresh Baruah

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Q Did you ever think you would surrender? 

I have not left ULFA(I). I still belong to the organisation, but I have surrendered. I had never thought I would be disloyal to my organisation and quit the revolution midway to return to normal life. The circumstances left me with no choice.

I was hiding in no man’s land between India and Bangladesh—neighbouring Meghalaya—after eight years of struggle to survive the tough operations of the Indian Army, Special Force 10 in Meghalaya (elite force created during the height of insurgency), and other agencies, and on the other side by Bangladesh special forces and border guards. I had several close shaves with security forces between 2011 and 2016, but I managed to escape.

One night, I was in one of the ULFA hideouts near the border pillar in no man’s land (from where they used to infiltrate into India). I had not eaten for seven days and we got information that we had been spotted. For three days, the forces had tracked us intensively. Soon, we got information that many vehicles were coming as some senior Army commander was visiting. But I realised the deployment was for us. There were two choppers and around 15 vehicles; we were surrounded. I even thought of committing suicide as I felt the torture I might face was not worth it. But then I was told I could surrender.

Q What about your wife and children?