Assam : 26 hardcore militants nabbed

Defence spokesperson said that following a tip-off, the Army, the police and  the NIA had jointly launched operation along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Udalguri district and nabbed five hardcore militants of NDFB(S), including a self styled commander of its 13th battalion, and recovered arms and ammunition in possession from them.

The nabbed 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 security forces have recovered one AK 56 rifle with magazine, one 9mm pistol with holster, twenty five 7.62mm live rounds, fifty-four 9mm live rounds and one hand grenade in possession from them.

In a separate operation launched by troops of Red Horn Division, based on specific intelligence provided by Gajraj Intelligence Unit, a self- styled Sergeant Bimal Boro alias Khwobla [Platoon Commander NDFB(S) Nalbari] was apprehended from Antaibari under Tamulpur Police Station in Baksa district.

“Based on hard intelligence provided by Gajraj Intelligence Unit, Guwahati City police and 175 CRPF battalion had apprehended a hardcore NDFB(S) terrorist in Guwahati, identified as Birsing Basumatary, who entered the city to carry out disruptive activities ahead of the Republic Day,” Assam police IGP (L&O) SN Singh said.

The security forces also nabbed 11 militants of NDFB(S) in Chirang district and eight cadres of newly formed outfit group Karbi Liberation Peoples Force (KLPF) in Karbi Anglong district.

NDFB(S) were involved in the massacre on Dec 23 in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur district which left 81 tribal people dead.

After the massacre, at least 80 militants haave been apprehended in Assam so far.

(Reporting by Hemnata Kumar Nath)