Assam police yet to identify slain rebel

The Assam police on Saturday said that involvement of anti-talk faction of NDFB was confirmed but they are yet to identify the slain NDFB militant.

Additional director general of police L.R. Bishnoi told this newspaper that there were news in the media that the slain NDFB rebel was the dreaded area commander of the outfit — Manjoy Islari alias Maodang. “We brought the parents of Maodang but they failed to identify the body of the slain militant,” said Mr Bishnoi, adding that they would succeed in identifying the militant soon. However, Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday told reporters that slain militant has been identified as commander of 16th Battalion of the NDFB (S). “The police have been asked to carry out DNA test of the slain militant to confirm the identity,” said Mr Sarma.

The ADGP heading the police in Bodoland Territorial Council maintained that they are yet to confirm the identity. He also claimed that situation was normal in Bodoland Territorial Council areas. “We are receiving seven companies of additional forces in Kokrajhar. Some have already reached,” said Mr Bishnoi.

The ministry of home affairs on Saturday also sent a team of National Investigation Agency to study the crime scene.

Meanwhile, the home ministry in a communication to the state government on Saturday directed to intensify the counter-insurgency operations in Bodoland Territorial Council. The Union home minister also ruled out the chances of engaging the anti-talks faction of NDFB in peace-talks. The two factions of NDFB are holding talks with the government.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday visited the victims of Friday carnage at Guwahati Medical College Hospital. The finance minister Himanata Biswa Sarma who accompanied chief minister said that most of those seriously wounded in Friday’s carnage have been shifted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital for a better treatment. He however regretted that one of the victims whose kidney was injured by militant bullet on Saturday succumbed to his injury, taking the death toll to 15 including a militant.

Mr Sonowal while coming out of Guwahati Medical College Hospital said, “The doctors here informed us that the condition of those injured in NDFB (S) strike is improving. We have instructed security forces to go all out against the militants. We are committed to providing security to the lives and property of the people.”

Meanwhile a delegation of opposition Congress party led by the opposition leader Debabrata Saikia visited the violence-hit area of Kokrajhar to take stock of the situation.