26 Hardcore Militants Arrested, including 18 NDFB(S)
Security forces on Monday apprehended at least 26 hardcore militants including 18 NDFB(S) militants in different parts of Assam and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, officials said.
A defence spokesperson said a tip-off alerted army, police and NIA, and joint operation was launched along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Udalguri district. Five hardcore NDFB(S)militants were arrested, including a commander of its 13th battalion. Security forces recovered the militants’ arms and ammunition.
The arrested militants were identified as Bikunas Narzary @ Birlangbai, Bidai Singh Narzary Bugdaw , Lohit Basumatry @ B Ferkw, N Araibaw Aijak Narzary and Dura Singh Brahma @ B Khamshaw.
The arrest of Bikunas Narzary Birlangbai is a body blow to the NDFB (S), as he is the self styled commanding officer of NDFB(S) thirteen Battalion.
Security forces recovered one AK 56 Rifle with Magazine, one 9mm Pistol (Foreign Made) with holster, twenty five 7.62mm live rounds, Fifty four 9mm live rounds and one Hand Grenade from the militants.
In a separate operation launched by troops of the Red Horn Division, based on intelligence provided by Gajraj Intelligence Unit, militant Sergeant Bimal Boro alias Khwobla (Platoon Commander NDFB(S) Nalbari) was arrested in Antaibari under Tamulpur Police Station in Baksa district.
“Based on hard intelligence provided by Gajraj Intelligence Unit, Guwahati City police and 175 CRPF battalion apprehended a hardcore NDFB(S) terrorist in Guwahati, identified as Birsing Basumatary, who entered the City to carry out disruptive activities ahead of Republic Day,” Assam police IGP (L&O) SN Singh said.
Security forces also arrested 11 NDFB(S) militants in Chirang district and eight cadres of a newly formed militant group, Karbi Liberation Peoples Force (KLPF), in Karbi Anglong district on Monday.
NDFB(S) was involved in the massacre on December 23 in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur district that left 81 innocent Adivasi people dead.
Security forces have now apprehended at least 80 militants in Assam since that massacre.
NIA registered four cases for the massacre including two cases in each of Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts.
