NDFB-S militants accused of Adivasi killings arrested

Guwahati, January 9

Two dreaded NDFB-Songbijit militant leaders responsible for the massacres of Adivasis have been arrested along with four of their associates and a large quantity of arms seized from their possession, a senior police officer said on Friday.

"NDFB-S Kokrajhar platoon 'second-in-command' Mithinga and Khuren along with their four associates were arrested from Serfunguri in Kokrajhar district of Assam last night," IGP LR Bishnoi told PTI.

They were accused of massacre of the Adivasis at Pakriguri in Kokrajhar district on December 23.

The extremists led the police to the jungles in Thaisuguri area where they had buried a large quantity of weapons, explosives, medicines and army uniforms, Bishnoi said.

The recoveries include one AK-47 rifle, an HK-33 rifle, one M-16 rifle, six magazines, four 9 mm-pistols, four hand grenades, 300 rounds of ammunition, four sacks of medicines and several battle fatigues, he said.

Stating Mithinga and Khuren had themselves fired upon the people at Pakriguri, the IGP said their arrests were a major success in nabbing the perpetrators of the December 23 killings.

At least 81 people, mostly Adivasis, were killed in Kokrajhar, Sonitpur, and Chirang districts by heavily-armed militants belonging to the Songbijit faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had announced while visiting Assam after the killing that NIA would probe into the carnage and the agency has started their investigation. Meanwhile, another insurgent was arrested on Friday from Kachugaon Reserve Forest with three AK-47 rifles, one INSAS rifle and eight grenades, IGP LR Bishnoi said.

The militant was arrested in connection with the massacre of Adivasis at Pakriguri in Kokrajhar district on December 23 last year, he said.

PTI