Top leader, 5 others of Adivasi militant group held

The 'commander-in-chief' and five other cadres of the All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) were arrested with arms in Karbi Anglong district, a senior police officer said today.
Acting on a tip off, a joint team of police and army launched an operation at Jilangso under Bokolia police station and arrested the six last night, Superintendent of Police Debojit Deuri told PTI.
Two 9 mm pistols with magazines, four 7.65 mm pistols with as many magazines, two hand grenades, eight rounds of 9 mm ammunition and 28 rounds of 7.65 mm ammunition were seized, Deuri said.
The apprehended insurgents include AANLA 'commander-in-chief' Dilip Nayak alias Anand Nayak.

The other five arrested cadres are Mahadev Gour, Somon Gour alias Rahul Gour, Kanakeram Gour, Uttam Munda and Riten Munda, the SP said.
Formed in 2006, the AANLA is active in Golaghat and Karbi Anglong districts. Claiming to be fighting to safeguard the tribal culture of the plantation workers whose ancestors were brought from northern India by British colonialists, the outfit demands ST status for the Adivasi community.