Six militants of banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Saoraigwra) have been apprehended in an early morning operation by the Indian Army and Assam Police in a reserve forest area close to the Indo-Bhutan border in Kokrajhar district on Tuesday, a senior police official said.
Police said the militants were apprehended from a reserve forest in Sarabil area of Kokrajhar district which shares a border with Bhutan. An M16 rifle, six 7.65mm pistols and ammunition have been recovered in the operation, according to Rabha.
Mukut Rabha, additional superintendent of police, Kokrajhar, said the apprehended militants include Bahaigya Basumatary alias Balaram, Rangolal Warray, Sailen Borgayari, Robiram Gayari, Rajesh Narzary and Julesh Mushahary.
According to sources who are familiar with the organisational structure of the outfit claimed that Basumatary is a top rung member who officiates as the cultural secretary of its 39 Battalion.
“They are all dreaded militants. Their interrogation is on,” said Rabha adding that the security forces were looking for this group.
A senior intelligence official of the Assam Police said the NDFB(S) has been on a backfoot due to sustained operations and is suspected to have around 20 cadres active in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts and around 50 cadres in Myanmar where the outfit has its camps.
Army officials said they will be briefing the media later in the day with more details.
