Rebel leaders arrested

Kokrajhar, May 25 : Two leaders of two Adivasi militant groups were arrested while another rebel was beaten to death by the villagers in connection with the attack on a Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF) member at Pakriguri village under Serfanguri police station in Kokrajhar district last evening.

Adivasi Cobra Militant of Assam commander-in-chief Kanhu Murmu was picked from his residence at Gossaigaon. Adivasi Peoples’ Army deputy commander-in-chief Franchis Murmu was arrested from Rangia when he was trying to escape after unidentified gunmen, suspected to be from the same group, shot at BPF member Inus Tudu.

Another member of APA, Birbal Tudu, was beaten to death by the villagers after the attack.

“Kanhu Murmu has been picked up in connection with the attack. We are investigating and if he is found involved he would be arrested,” said a senior police officer in Serfanguri police station.

Kanhu Murmu was brought to Kokrajahr police station late last evening.

Inus Tudu’s wife Nilima Hebrum had named Kanhu Murmu’s group to be behind the attack on her husband.

Four persons in two motorbikes had came to Inus Tudu’s house around 6pm and attacked him.

The villagers later managed to catch one of them and beat him to death.

“He was caught by the villager and beaten to death,” said Serfanguri police.

The All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam suspects the involvement of the government in the attack.

“We have suspect the involvement of the Congress government. Such serial killing of AASAA members indicate the hidden agenda of Kokrajhar district administration at the behest of the state government to eliminate our organisation from the district,” said Justin Lakra, former president of the group said at Kokrajhar Press Club today.

AASAA president Raphael Kujur said, “We regret that the district administration has failed to maintain law and order and has failed to give security to our leaders.”

The AASAA also demanded that the district administration should bear the entire expenses of Inus Tudu, who is undergoing treatment.

A memorandum was also submitted to the Kokrajahr deputy commissioner in this regard demanding a CBI inquiry into the series of killings and attacks on Adivasi leaders, including AASAA president Bosco Chermaco and president of Adivasi Seva Samiti Bodon Hasda.

The group has threatened to resort to a dharna in front of the deputy commissioner’s office at Kokrajhar if the administration does not take necessary steps to stop the killings.