Assam: Army busts terror outfit in Kokrajhar

In a major success for the Indian Army in conjunction with Assam Police, a new terrorist outfit named 'Helem Tiger Force' was busted in a sustained operation over the last few days.

Eleven cadres of the terrorist outfit were apprehended along with a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives.

However, the kingpin of this new outfit is still at large and efforts are on to reach out to him.

Based on inputs, the Army along with theAssam Police carried out ops in Dima Hasao and West Karbi Anglong districts of Assam bordering Meghalaya.

The unearthing and apprehension of a majority of cadres of this terrorist outfit which has links with KPLT and UPLA has been a major setback to the nexus between the outfits which have been involved in kidnapping, extortion and 'tax-collection'.

In an another incident, based on specific intelligence about presence of NDFB(S) terrorists in Village Pakriguri, Kokrajhar District, a joint team of Army and Assam police launched a search operation on night 28, 29 June.

During the search, four hardcore NDFB(S) linkmen were apprehended, who were identified as Ram Tudu, Santosh Hembrom, Mwikhwm Mushahary and Jwisar Borgayari.

One Rifle, Pistol and few live rounds were recovered from the apprehended linkmen.

Ram Tudu, an ex NSLA(AT) cadre was directed by NDFB(S) hierarchy from Myanmar to attack Serfanguri Police Station in Kokrajhar District, by lobbing grenades.

He was also tasked by senior cadres of NDFB(S), in Myanmar, to extort money on behalf of NDFB(S), from contractors and timber smugglers in Kokrajhar District.

The other apprehended individual, Santosh Hembrom was working in conjunction with Ram Tudu and was also involved in extortion.

The apprehension by Security Forces is a further jolt and isolation of Bidai group, which was trying to settle down after last month's busting of camp in Ultapani area of Kokrajhar District.

The group is now dispersed in smaller groups in Ripu and Chirang Reserve Forest and are in desperate need of money, ration and medicines, for which they are solely dependent on Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and linkmen.