Guwahati: Security forces in Assam claimed to have dealt a death blow to the anti-talks faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland led by IK Songbijit – NDFB(S).
Interacting with newsmen at the Assam Police Headquarters here on 26th May, Director General of Police (DGP) Khagen Sarma claimed that 10 NDFB(S) militants were killed and over 300 of its cadres and linkmen arrested during the five-month security operation against the outfit.
He also asserted that continued operation against the outfit also resulted in substantial improvement in the overall law-and order situation in the State.
‘We have also recovered over 100 sophisticated arms, including factory-made weapons and 62.5 kg of explosives during our operations all these months in different locations of the State,’ Sarma said.
Operations were intensified against the NDFB(S) across the State after its suspected members allegedly massacred over 70 people across three districts of Assam on 23rd December last year. The army and Central paramilitary forces are assisting Assam Police in the operations.
Giving a report card on the five months of the operation, the DGP told the media that the operations were continuing and 343 cadres have been arrested so far. Of these, 204 were active cadres and the rest were over ground workers and sympathisers.
After 23rd December, the Centre had ruled out any talks with the Songbijit faction and sent additional companies of security forces to assist Assam Police in its operation against the militants.
‘We received about 50 companies of paramilitary forces and they are still stationed here to assist the state police in counter-insurgency operations,’ Sarma added.
The police said that the outfit was still trying to set up camps in Manas Reserved Forest and about 35 to 40 of its cadres were still moving around in the state. He said the top brass of the outfit, including Songbijit, has already shifted base to foreign soil like in Myanmar. (ENe)
