18 NDFB(S) rebels, 8 tribal insurgents held in Assam
Bijay Sankar Bora
Tribune News Service
Guwahati, January 19
Twenty-six tribal insurgents, including 18 belonging to the NDFB(S) group, were arrested by security forces in Assam today in separate operations serving a lethal blow to the NDFB(S) outfit accused of killing of over 70 adivasi villagers in Assam on December 23 last year.
A defence spokesman said a joint operation was launched by the Army, police and NIA in the forest area along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary to nab NDFB(S) terrorists. He said those arrested included Bikunas Narzary, alias Birlangbai, Bidai Singh Narzary, alias Bugdaw, Lohit Basumatry, alias B Ferkw, N Araibaw, alias Aijak Narzary, and Dura Singh Brahma, alias B Khamshaw.
The forces also recovered an AK-56 rifle with a magazine, a 9mm pistol with holster, twenty-five 7.62mm rounds, 54 rounds of 9mm ammunition and a hand grenade. The arrest of Bikunas Narzary is construed as a big blow to the NDFB(S) as he is the self-styled commanding officer of 13th battalion of the outfit.
Eleven other militants of the NDFB(S) were apprehended in the Panbari forest area of Chirang district. A huge cache of arms and ammunition, including two pistols, two improvised explosive devices and nine detonators, were recovered from their possession.
Deven Goyari an, IED expert for the NDFB(S), who made an unsuccessful attempt to plant an IED in December 2014, was among those held.
In another operation, the Army arrested self-styled sergeant Bimal Boro, alias Khwobla, who is a platoon commander of the NDFB(S), in Nalbari at Antaibari under the Tamulpur police station in Baksa district.
Another NDFB(S) terrorist Birsing Basumatary was arrested in Guwahati by the Army and CRPF personnel. The militant was suspected to enter the city to carry out a terror strike before the Republic Day.
In a joint operation, the Army and police apprehended eight suspected Karbi Land People’s Front (KLPF) cadres in Gandhipur of East Karbi Anglong district this morning. The arrested terrorists were identified as Biren Ingti, Mohan Terang, Andres Teron, Bizu Teron, John Teron, Babu Teron, Rakesh Ingti and Rup Singh. A huge quantity of arms and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists.
