DIBRUGARH, Aug 9 � The emergence of another Adivasi outfit, Adivasi Tiger Force of Assam in Upper Assam has kept the police on their toes as the cadres of the infant organisation are engaged in massive extortion drives in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts.
The arrest of two cadres � Saighun Dhan of Bajipahumara and Bijoy Chania of Bamun-bari under Tingkhong LAC area � has given a setback to the outfit as these two cadres were reportedly involved in series of extortion activities in Tingkhong area. Several people have received demand notes from the new Adivasi outfit in Tingkhong, Rajgarh, Bamunbari and Kenduguri areas of Dibrugarh district.
Another unit of this outfit is believed to be active in Duliajan and Bordubi. The new Adivasi outfit has served extortion notes on several businessmen and small tea growers in the twin districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia. The cadres have even threatened businessmen over phone while demanding money.
However, the main objective behind floating the new Adivasi outfit has not been ascertained as yet. The extortion notes have shown that their headquarters is located at Dhemaji but the leader of the outfit is still not known.
However, Dibrugarh SP Arabinda Kalita told The Assam Tribune that a few local youths were carrying out the extortion drives for easy money. He said that the organisation does not appear to be a trained and established one. �Although a few boys are carrying arms for the purpose, we have not found links with any other bigger armed groups,� he said.
It needs to be mentioned here that five active armed Adivasi organisations laid down arms before P Chidambaram, the then Union Home Minister in Guwahati on January 24 this year to resolve their demands through negotiations.
