GUWAHATI, Nov 17 � Militant outfit Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO), which has recently been banned by the Government of India under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, now has more members from Assam than from West Bengal.
Security sources told The Assam Tribune that at one point of time, the KLO was considered to be a North Bengal based militant outfit, though it maintained close ties with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB). However, the situation has now changed as the outfit has more members from Assam.
Sources revealed that the outfit in the last few years, managed to recruit a number of youths from lower Assam, particularly from the districts of Bongaigaon, Chirang and Goalpara. The total strength of the KLO is now estimated to be around 100 to 120 cadres. The outfit is also maintaining close ties with the Songbijit faction of the NDFB and both the outfits also launched a number of joint operations including kidnappings and extortions. The KLO is not considered to be a very strong militant group, but it has the nuisance element because of involvement of its members in unlawful activities, sources added.
The KLO is also maintaining close ties with Manipur based outfit KYKL. Members of the KYKL also imparted training to members of the KLO in the bases of the outfit in Myanmar and in recent times, the KLO itself established a base in the neighbouring country. The base is located near the international border with Manipur and it is run with the help of the KYKL. Some of the newly youths recruited in recent months by the KLO from Lower Assam were also sent to the base in Myanmar for training.
