As of March 9, Arunachal Pradesh’s Home Minister Mama Natung reported that 165 militants from various insurgent groups have surrendered over the past six years. These surrenders occurred in the insurgency-affected districts of Tirap, Changlang, and Longding. Specifically, 47 militants surrendered in Tirap, 41 in Changlang, and 77 in Longding, between January 2020 and December 2025. The breakdown of those surrendered reveals a significant number affiliated with major insurgent groups: 50 from the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), 37 from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khango-Yung Aung), and 35 from the Eastern Naga National Government. Other groups with surrenders include the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) with 27 militants, and smaller numbers from various factions.
Natung outlined that these surrendered militants benefit from the government’s Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme, which has disbursed ₹1.4 crore in financial assistance over the last six years. They have access to a rehabilitation camp established on January 9 of the previous year at Bhismaknagar, where vocational training programs are provided to enhance their skill sets. In the current financial year, 26 cadres benefited from short-term vocational training. However, it is notable that the scheme does not guarantee direct employment or housing, and cases of minor offences committed by successfully rehabilitated militants might be eligible for withdrawal based on government policies.
The minister also made clear that militants implicated in serious crimes such as murder, rape, and abduction will still face legal repercussions, emphasizing that surrender does not absolve them of criminal responsibility. To further support and strengthen the rehabilitation program, the state government has allocated additional financial support, including a stipend of ₹6,000 per cadre and a budget of ₹109.10 lakh dedicated to improving rehabilitation infrastructure. The monitoring of the reintegration and livelihood status for those who have surrendered remains a priority for the government.
