GUWAHATI, Jan 29 � Encroachment of the reserved forests in different parts of Assam is giving an added advantage to the militant groups as there is very little presence of any Government machinery in such areas the militants belonging to the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), have taken advantage of it particularly in Sonitpur and Chirang districts.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) SN Singh admitted that the NDFB (S) is now the most active militant groups in the State, but the police and security forces have launched an all-out operation against the militants. He said that the forces achieved considerable success in the operations in Kokrajhar district, but the success rate in the districts of Sonitpur and Chirang is still not up to the mark.
Singh revealed that the militants take advantage of the encroachments in the reserved forests and established bases in such areas and the encroachers rarely come forward to provide information about the movement of the militants. He pointed out that there is hardly any presence of the Government machinery in the reserved forests and the police also cannot set up any station or outpost, which give added advantage to the militants. In Sonitpur, the militants also take shelter in the hills and cross through the reserved forests for their operations.
The IGP, who visited Batasipur area of Sonitpur district where the additional Superintendent of Police, Gulzar Hussain was killed yesterday, said that a team of the forces led by Hussain conducted a raid in the area and apprehended one hardcore NDFB (S) militant. The security force party went on foot but as the militant was injured, four vehicles were called to the area. The militants must have received the information when four vehicles went to the area and that gave ample time for them to lay an ambush, in which the young officer was killed.
