12 militants killed, over 300 captured in Assam in six months

Tezpur (Assam): The Army today said security forces had killed 12 militants of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) in the last six months and captured more than 300 terrorists belonging to the Bodo outfit and Karbi People's Liberation Tiger across the state.

"More than 300 terrorists belonging mainly to NDFB(S) and KPLT have been apprehended during the operation since December massacre last year. Also, 12 militant of NDFB(S) have been killed in this period," General officer commanding (GOC) 4 Crops of Army Lt Gen Sarath Chand told reporters here.

Most of the militants have been apprehended by joint operations of the Army and Assam Police, he added.

Chand said the districts in Lower Assam had remained peaceful since December 23, when the NDFB(S) launched serial attacks across many districts.

At least 81 persons, including Adivasis, Bodos and Bengalis, were killed in the serial attacks, retaliatory violence and police firing.

Regarding recent operation in Manas National Park, Chand said the security personnel patrolling on boat-intercepted militants on the river bank, leading to heavy exchange of gun fire although none of the security force person was injured.

"The militants escaped and the security forces busted a camp of NDFB(S), from which ration, arms and documents were recovered... NDFB(S) made false propaganda on the entire matter," he added.

The senior official further said NDFB(S), ULFA(I) and KLO operating in Lower Assam have started resorting to the tactics of spreading false rumours, apparently with dual aim of augmenting the flagging morale of their cadres and to create a sense of insecurity amongst the common people.

Talking about the new organisation United Liberation Front of South West East Asia, Chand said it was a group formed by the North Eastern militants of NDFB(S), ULFA(I), NSCN(K), KLO and KPLT, but all the groups have different ideologies.

"The coalition will not survive for a long time. They were organised as their individual strength has been reduced. The ideologies of these militants' outfits are different, so they cannot stand on a single platform," he added.

Chand also mentioned that the insurgent organisations of the Northeast are engaged in arms and drugs smuggling, which are the major sources of income for them.

On militant hideouts in Myanmar, he said: "The 14-km-long Indo-Myanmar border is open for the people of both the countries to cross over as same tribes are staying on both sides of the border. Militants take advantage of this and frequently cross over.