Security forces arrest 5 persons involved in NDFB(S) violence in Assam

GUWAHATI/DHEKIAJULI: Security forces today arrested a cadre of NDFB (S) and four linkmen in connection with the violence unleashed by the group in lower Assam which has left 81 people dead.

While the cadre and two linkmen were arrested in Kokrajhar district, which bore the brunt of the mayhem on December 23, in the early hours today, two other linkmen were nabbed from Sonitpur last night.

"In Kokrajhar district, three people were arrested from the inter-state border at Srirampur when they were trying to enter West Bengal in a car," Bodoland Territorial Area Districts Inspector General of Police L R Bishnoi told PTI.

The cadre has been identified as Radip Narzary (25), while the linkmen as Banadict Basumatary (31) and Rahidas Narzary, Bishnoi said, adding they were being interrogated.

In Sonitpur district, two linkmen were arrested last night by a joint team of the Army, police and CRPF at Dhekiajuli and Biswanath Chariali.

"The two have been identified as Suklai Basumatary (25) from Batachipur under Dhekiajuli police station and Arun Narzari (26) form Kharaibari under Biswanath Charilai police station," Sonitpur Superintendent of Police Sanjukta Parasar said.

"During interrogation, Suklai said that eight persons carried out the Batachipur killings. He also told us the names of two other terrorists involved in the attacks," the SP said.

Besides, Suklai's mobile phone was used by two of the terrorists during the attacks, Parasar said.

From his cell phone, several other linkmen's numbers were recovered and these are being investigated, she said.

Sources said some important documents were seized from Arun, who was monitoring the operations of the security forces and regularly informing about this to NDFB(S) cadres.

The SP also said Army, Assam police and CRPF took part in the operation against NDFB(S) in Sonitpur district.

"Eleven companies of central paramilitary forces already arrived in the district and were deployed. The people of the relief camps have begun to return home after deployment of these forces," the SP said.

Eighty-one people lost their lives in the NDFB (S)- sponsored violence on December 23 in Kokrajhar, Sonitpur and Chirang districts in lower Assam and subsequent retaliatory violence and police firing.