Security forces told to act tough against Assam's NDFB anti-talk faction

The anti-talk faction of the rebel National Democratic Front for Bodoland (NDFB) is under pressure to abandon its insurgent activities.

Security forces have reportedly been instructed by the Central and Assam Governments to crack down on this group in the wake of the killing of five Hindi-speaking people and a senior police officer in the state's Kokrajhar and Sonitpur Districts.

The militants fired upon a police team that was returning to the local police station.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gulzar Hussain was killed in the ambush and four constables suffered bullet injuries.

The injured were taken to the Tezpur Civil Hospital.

"We were returning from duty when the incident took place. We had crossed three kilomters from Maoripur and there was firing. Along with me, five people were injured," said a policeman.

Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (Northeast) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, said: "The police had received information about somebody getting injured. The police had gone to the spot to check. They made a mistake by returning on the same route which they had taken earlier. The ambush had already been laid for them. One ASP was killed and four constables were injured."

On January 17, activists of the NDFB (S) killed five Hindi-speaking people in Kokrajhar District.

The Union Home Ministry has asked the paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to undertake special counter-insurgency operations in the state to check the actions of the group.

Meanwhile, Assam Police has announced a cash award of Rs. 62 lakh for information and capture of 18 militants of the NDFB (S) and the Kamatapur Liberation Army (KLA) following the recent incidents of violence.

Earlier, an award of Rs. 95 lakh was announced against the "most wanted" 15 NDFB (S) militants, including its chief Songbijit Ingti Kathar.

S.N. Singh, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), Assam Police, said: "Recently, we had announced cash rewards for leaders of the Songbijit faction. We have added seven more names to the list."

The people of Assam are demanding tough action against the NDFB (S).

In Kokrajhar, the Hindi Bhasi Yuva Chatra Parishad staged a protest rally and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner for counter-insurgency operations against the outfit for killing people in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Udalgiri.

Mono Kr. Braham, BPF youth wing president, said: "We are taking out a bike rally against the killings by NDFB(S) in the BTAD area. They are killing innocent people and so we are protesting against them."

People in the Northeast want to live a peaceful life, but the insurgent outfits are trying to create insecurity and divisions between different communities.