9 Bodoland militants nabbed in Arunachal

Guwahati: In a major breakthrough, Indian Army and Arunachal Pradesh police, in a joint operation, apprehended nine National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) cadres of anti-talk faction in Arunachal Pradesh while they were crossing over to India from Myanmar.

Informing that these newly trained militants were heading to western Assam after completing their training in Myanmar, security sources said a cache of arms and ammunitions were also discovered from the militants.

Pointing out that sec-urity forces had specific input about the mo-vement of these armed rebels from Myanmar, security sources said these were assigned the task of launching subversive activities in western Assam.

The security forces, which are carrying out interrogation of these apprehended militants, also recovered sophisticated weapons like AK-47, AK-56, and pistols from their possession.

Following the specific intelligence tip off, the Army had laid an ambush on routes used by militants to cross over to India from Myanmar.

The arrested NDFB(S) cadres have been identified as Mani Ram Basumatary, Bin-aram Narzary, Sulekha Brahma, Sumuriya Na-rzary, Rajesh Basumat-ary, Gaodang Mochaha-ry, Rita Swrgary, Rotjona Narzary, and Dilip Narzary.

Pointing out that security forces have launched coordinated operations in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland, sources said security measures have been intensified in most of the vulnerable areas to check the movement of armed rebels.

The ministry of home affairs (MHA) had also expressed concern over the law and order situation and stressed the need of coordination among the security forces of the northeastern states, particularly Assam, Arunachal Pra-desh, and Nagaland.

The interstate movement of militants has become a major problem as the ultras sneak into Assam from their hideouts in Tirap, Cha-nglang, and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Mon district of Nagaland to indulge in acts of violence in the state and retreat immediately. Security sources added that steps have been taken to increase coordination among the bordering states.