8 militants held in Assam raids

Eight suspected militants and an alleged linkman for insurgents were arrested during sustained raids in the Kokrajhar and Udalguri districts of Assam, police and defence sources said today.
Seven suspected militants belonging to various outfits such as NDFB (Songbijit), NSCN(IM) and National Liberation Front of Bengalis (NLFB) were arrested last night during a joint operation by police and army in Udalguri district, IGP LR Bishnoi told PTI.
The police and army's 40 Field Regiment from Borengjuli launched an operation last night and apprehended NDFB(S) insurgents Ashique Daimary and Nerswn Boro from Tangla and recovered one Indian hand grenade from their possession, he said.

Based on inputs obtained from them, another operation was launched today at Goroibari village under Udalguri police station and NSCN(IM) 'sergeant major' Vihuto Sumi, NDFB(S) insurgent Jipirush Narzary, NLFB 'deputy commander-in-chief' Ajit Biswash and NDFB cadres Lalchand Mandal and Ratanlal Mazumdar were apprehended, Bishnoi said.
One 7.65mm pistol, two magazines and 50 rounds of assorted ammunition were recovered from Narzary with the same type of arms and ammunition having been seized from Biswash as well, the IGP added.
Meanwhile, in another raid in Kokrajhar district today, one NDFB(S) militant and an alleged linkman of the outfit were apprehended by a joint team of army and police from the Jaleswari area, defence sources said.

The NDFB(S) cadre and the linkman were identified, respectively, as Agnesh Mushahary alias Kenkra and Nikhil Daimary alias Ajoy, the sources said.
Two factory-made pistols and four rounds of ammunition were recovered from their possession, the sources added.