Army wary of NDFB faction

ASSAM: Major General R S Chand, officiating GOC, Gajraj Corps, on Tuesday felt the recent violent attacks carried out by anti-talk faction of militant outfit National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) might be an attempt to frustrate the outcome of peace parleys with the pro-talk NDFB faction and the government.

The anti-talk faction of NDFB, led by Ranjan Daimary, mowed down 13 people in Sonitpur district of Assam in October this year. This has fuelled speculation that the anti-talk faction���s strength has increased and it is regrouping. Locals of Bhimajuli village alleged they were bullied by the militant outfit for protection money.

Mr Chand said: "The pro-talk group is having successful discussions with the government and the anti-talk group might try to disturb them."

While addressing a seminar conducted by the army on counter-terrorist operations, Mr Chand added: "Had intelligence sharing taken place prior to the Bhimajuli incident, things could have been different. In the DGP meeting held recently in Shillong, we have discussed as to how to prevent recurrence of such incidents. We also discussed the spread of the terror network during ceasefire or suspension of operation. The unified command structure is working well and joint operations have been successful."

He added: "Security forces need to continuously refine their drills and procedures keeping the changing scenario as the backdrop."

Major General (Retd) Gaganjit Singh, who had once spearheaded counter-insurgency operations in Assam, told ET: "Insurgencies in Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur and Assam are different in nature and they should not be judged by the same yardstick. The situation is Assam has changed, there is much more calm here. We now have a government in Bangladesh, which is pro-India. The ceasefire must be taken to a logical conclusion.