GUWAHATI, Jan 19 � The intensified anti-insurgency operations in Assam following the killing of more than 70 persons in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar on December 23 continued yielding results as 26 ultras were arrested in a single day today, which included 18 members belonging to the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the Army unit of Red Horns Division stationed at Udalguri, police and National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched a joint operation along the forest area of Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border and nabbed dreaded ultra Bikunas Narzary alias Birlangbai along with four other hardcore militants � Bidai Singh Narzary alias Bugdaw, Lohit Basumatry alias B Ferkw, N Araibaw alias Aijak Narzary and Dura Singh Brahma alias B Khamshaw. An AK 56 rifle with magazine, a 9mm pistol (foreign made) with holster, twenty-five 7.62mm live rounds of ammunition, fifty-four 9mm live rounds of ammunition and a hand grenade were recovered from the possession of the militants.
An Army release pointed out that the nabbing of Bikunas Narzary dealt a body blow to the NDFB(S), as he was the self-styled commander of the 13th battalion of NDFB(S). With the nabbing of Bikunas along with his accomplices, it can be said that the top leadership of 13th battalion of NDFB(S) has been wiped off.
In another major blow to the NDFB(S), eleven of its cadres were apprehended in a joint operation by troops of the Red Horns Division based on hard intelligence provided by Gajraj Intelligence Unit today, from the Panbari forest area in Chirang district. Two pistols, two improvised explosive devices and nine detonators were recovered from the cadres.
During the operation important cadres like Deven Goyari, an IED expert of the NDFB(S) who made an unsuccessful attempt to plant an IED against Army personnel in December last year, Raton Bengali, who was involved in providing information and other assistance to the militant outfit during the Labdanguri carnage and Parkash Narzari alias Gahen, a locally trained cadre who was active since 2012, were apprehended.
In yet another operation, troops of the Red Horns Division nabbed NDFB(S) self-styled sergeant Bimal Boro alias Khwobla at Antaibari under Tamulpur Police Station in Baksa district.
Meanwhile, based on intelligence provided by the Gajraj Intelligence Unit, Guwahati City police and 175 CRPF battalion apprehended a hardcore NDFB(S) militant in Guwahati. He was identified as Birsing Basumatary. It is suspected that he had entered the city to carry out disruptive activities in view of Republic Day.
Meanwhile, in a joint operation, the Army unit of Diphu Red Horns Division and police apprehended eight suspected KLPF cadres today. Based on an input from the Gajraj Intelligence Unit, a joint operation was launched by Army and police at Gandhipur in east Karbi Anglong in the early hours today. When the security forces approached the suspected hideout of the militants, they were fired upon. The security forces retaliated and after a brief gunfight, eight suspected militants were apprehended.
The apprehended ultras were identified as Biren Ingti, Mohan Terang, Andres Teron, Bizu Teron, John Teron, Babu Teron, Rakesh Ingti and Rup Singh. Three pistols, several grenades and ammunition of different weapons were recovered from the nabbed militants.
