Forces arrest NDFB rebel

Dhubri, May 12 : Two army jawans were injured and a NDFB militant John Sangma, 32, was arrested last night in a joint operation by the army and police of Assam and Meghalaya in the Nishan village of Goalpara district.

Sangma is from Charengma village under Dainadubi police station of the West Garo Hills.

Acting on a tip, soldiers the of 9 Sikh Light Regiment raided Salikapara forest and caught the militant after a brief encounter. “A joint operation was launched on receiving information about some militants hiding in the forest at Damra on the Assam-Meghalaya border under Dudhnoi police station by 9 Sikh Light Regiment and Assam police in Nishan village,” an army source said.

“The soldiers cordoned off the forest area. During the search operation, an NDFB militant tried to flee and was challenged by the jawans. He struck the soldiers with a daa injuring two of them,” the source said.

The sources said Sangma belongs to the Garo National Liberation Front but has also been aiding the NDFB in extortion and extending logistic support.

“One .32 revolver, ammunition and extortion notes signed by platoon commander Khorang Boro of the NDFB demanding Rs 10 lakh from a businessman were recovered from him,” an army source said.

In a major offensive launched by security forces in the lower Assam districts, an NDFB cadre identified as Hasad Basumtrary, 22, was arrested while three NDFB linkmen Sankar Basumatary, 28, Pratap Basumatary, 21, and Swamdwn Narzary, 21, were apprehended by 19 Madras Regiment from Besor village under Bijni police station of Chirang district on Tuesday.

One 9 mm pistol and five rounds of ammunition, one country-made pistol, one Chinese grenade, two rounds of 7.62 and five NDFB extortion notes were recovered from them. After interrogation, they were handed over to Bijni police.