GUWAHATI, May 23 � The attempt of the Maoist rebels to established strong roots in Assam and other parts of the North East region received a major setback with the arrest of Indranil Chanda, the rebel in-charge of Assam and North East by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
NIA sources told The Assam Tribune that Indranil alias Ajoy alias Raj, aged around 40 years, was arrested in Kolkata with the help of the Special task Force of the Kolkata police. He was brought to Guwahati this morning and was produced in the court of the Special Judge. The Maoist leader has been remanded to the custody of the NIA for seven days.
Sources said that Indranil, who hails from Bardwan in West Bengal, used to live mostly in Kolkata and frequently visited the Sarandra forest area where a number of major Maoist camps were located. Sources said that Indranil was instrumental in establishing links between the Maoists and the Manipur based militant group PLA and coordinated the arms and communication set transshipments. He was also instrumental in signing of an agreement between the Maoists and the PLA.
According to NIA sources, the arrested Maoist rebel visited Assam and other parts of North East region a number of times to set up bases of the Maoist rebels. He also visited Guwahati on several occasions and travelled to several parts of upper Assam, where the Maoists have already established some bases. He was also trying to establish links with other militant groups of the region including the hardline faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
