NDFB cadre involved in 2014 Assam massacre held

A joint team of army and Assam Police on Saturday arrested a National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militant who was allegedly involved in the 2014 massacre of adivasis.

The militant was identified as Samar Basumatary alias Sona, a self-styled platoon commander of NDFB in Chirang district, the army said in a statement. He was arrested during an operation at in Kokrajhar district.

"One 7.65 mm pistol, three live rounds, one hand grenade were among others recovered during the operation," it said.

Defence Spokesman Lt Col Suneet Newton said here that Sona underwent training in Mayanmar in 2010. "He was, thereafter, made responsible for imparting training to new recruits of the group at its camp in Myanmar till 2013."

"He was directly involved in the massacre of adivasis in Ultapani on the night of December 23 last year, in which 13 adivasi people were killed," he said.

The NDFB militants killed over 70 civilians, including children, in Assam's Kokrajhar, Chirang and Sonitpur districts December 23, 2014.