Top NDFB-S operative arrested from Bangalore

GUWAHATI: NDFB-Songbijit's top leader Burlung Bhutur has been arrested by the Karnataka Police in Bangalore today on a tip off from the Assam Police, said a police officer here.

The militant also known as Birkhang Basumatary was directly involved in the killing of eight Adivasis at Lungsung on December 23 and six Hindi-speaking persons at Serfanguri in Kokrajhar district of Assam on January 16 last year, IGP L R Bishnoi told PTI.

Terming the arrest as a "big catch", Bishnoi said the arrest was made on a tip off by the Assam Police.

The NDFB(S) had launched an attack on adivasis in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts on December 23 last following which there was retaliatory violence and police firing resulting in the killing of 81 persons.

Earlier on January 16 last year six Hindi-speaking persons were shot dead after the armed insurgents pulled down around 12 passengers from a bus coming from to Shillong and opened fire on them at Athiabari under Serfanguri police station.