UPLA Chief Nikunja Kathar arrested

United Peoples Liberation Army 'commander-in-chief' Nikunja Kathar has been apprehended along with two cadres in a joint operation by the Army and police from Bardalong in Assam's Karbi Anglong district on Monday, a defence release said here.

Based on specific intelligence about planned sabotage activities in Assam during the period preceding Independence Day, it said a surgical operation was launched by the joint team leading to the apprehension of Nikunja Kathar and his accomplices with arms and ammunition.

Kathar is a hardcore terrorist and has been involved in numerous acts of killing, extortion and kidnappings including the killing of Nityananda Goswami, Superintendent of Police (SP), West Karbi Anglong in June 2014, it said.

Stating the militant is an ex-UPDS cadre, who was instrumental in raising, training and illegally equipping terrorist outfit UPLA, it said Kathar was earlier arrested in 2014 and had been absconding since he was granted bail in November that year.

Preliminary interrogation has confirmed his recent visit to Myanmar, where he was in talks with NSCN(K), ULFA(I) and KPLT under the umbrella of the United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFWSEA) to revive UPLA in the hill districts and execute sabotage activities including IED blasts in Assam in the run up to the Independence Day.

Kathar was also carrying out reconnaissance of specific areas in East and West Karbi Anglong for setting up training camps and recruitment of new cadres, the release said.

The apprehension of this top leader has dealt a severe blow to the ongoing revival process of the UPLA and other terrorist groups operating in the hill districts and would also sever the association of UPLA with NSCN(K), ULFA(I) and other outfits, the defence release said.

Kathar's apprehension is also likely to adversely impact the safe conduit of arms, ammunition and IEDs from neighbouring states and Myanmar to Assam, it added.