Khambuwan Mukti Morcha Samyukta, an armed outfit fighting for a separate statehood in eastern hill districts for the past eight years, has surrendered weapons and pledged peaceful political activism.

Coordinator of the outfit David Khambu handed over five muskets and a pistol to Som Prasad Pandey, coordinator of the government talks team, at the District Administration Office of Sunsari on Saturday. Surrendering the weapons, Khambu said that he and his group returned to peaceful politics by accepting the constitutional provisions of the country. Other group leaders Prakash Rasaili, Jivan Regmi and Subas Limbu were also present at the DAO.

Similarly, Tarai Mukti Morcha, a Tarai armed group, also surrendered their weapons to the government talks team. Group’s coordinator Binod Kumar Yadav submitted a pistol and announced to give up armed activities. Chief District Officer Prem Prakash Uprety said that the administration would treat normally to the groups that entered into peace process.

The government formed a three-member talks team under CDO Pandey in August to accomplish the works left incomplete by the previous talks team. According to Pandey, the talks team identified 23 groups and held discussions with all but the CK Raut-led Free Madhes Campaign and Netra Bikram Chand’s Communist Party of Nepal.