In a major arms haul, seven weapons and ammunition, including automatic rifles, have been recovered from Ultapani forest area of Assam’s Kokrajhar district, a senior police official said on Monday.
The weapons belonged to a group of surrendered militants who were purportedly trying to form a new militant outfit, with the police snubbing their attempt at the preliminary stage, he claimed.
Special DGP LR Bishnoi, addressing a press conference here, said operations were launched in Silikaguri and Ultapani areas of Kokrajhar district based on specific information of cache of weapons being hidden by militants.
“Two police parties carried out the operations, which winded up early on Monday morning. Our team recovered seven weapons and several rounds of ammunition from Ultapani forest area,” he said.
The cache comprisedone M16, one Sniper Rifle, one Shirley Rifle, four AK47 and 130 rounds of ammunition.
Bishnoi said the weapons belonged to a group of surrendered militants who had recently fled from designated camps and were trying to float a new outfit.
“Some cadres had fled from Kokrajhar and Udalguri camps in March and had gone to Arunachal Pradesh…they were yet to give any name to their group but had tried to start recruitment,” he said.
In stepped up police action against these escaped cadres, three were killed, two injured and eight were arrested while the rest had surrendered, Bishnoi said.
“Based on information extracted from these ex-militants, the operations were conducted, leading to the weapon recovery,” he added.
The senior police official said these cadres were members of breakaway factions of National Democratic Front of Boroland (Songbijit faction) (NDFB-S).
When the NDFB(S) had come overground, a new group named National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB) was formed in January 2021 and when majority of members of the latter group surrendered in August the same year, another outfit named United Liberation of Bodoland (ULB) was formed, he said.
“The ULB had released a video of its formation in August 2021 and in September, two of its cadres were killed and 11 others arrested. The rest had surrendered. A fresh attempt to form a new group was made in March this year and we have stopped it at the initial stage itself,” the top cop added.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated the police on the successful recovery of the weapons.
Huge catch by@assampolice In a major operation, @KokrajharPolicehas recovered one M16, one Sniper Rifle, one Shirley Rifle, four AK47 and 130 rounds of ammunition from Ultapani forest area in Kokrajhar. Well done! Keep it up!,” Sarma Tweeted.
