NDFB rebels take refuge in Bengal

PANKAJ SARMA

Guwahati, June 21: Militants of the anti-talks faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) have taken refuge in West Bengal, facing heat from security forces in Assam.

According to sources in Assam police, the rebels have taken shelter in north Bengal to escape the security forces’ dragnet.

A highly placed source in Assam police told The Telegraph that Subraksha Brahma alias Sagrid, who was arrested at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad recently, has confessed that several hardcore militants of the outfit have taken shelter in north Bengal, especially in Jalpaiguri district.

“According to him, most of their cadres are hiding in Jaigaon and Kumargram, among other areas, in Jalpaiguri district with the help of Maoists and activists of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation,” the source said.

“Sagrid, who was brought here from Delhi on Saturday, has told his interrogators that he was hiding in Bengal for nearly a year. He had been carrying out subversive activities from there,” he said.

A joint team of Intelligence Bureau and Hyderabad airport police officers apprehended Sagrid on June 14 when he landed at Shamshabad airport from Calcutta on an Indigo flight.

He had been planning to leave for Dubai on a fake passport.

After a brief interrogation in Hyderabad, he was flown to Delhi the same day for further questioning.

At present, he is being interrogated at the headquarters of the special branch (SB) of Assam police at Kahilipara in the city.

The source said Sagrid had also revealed that the outfit has reportedly managed to set up hideouts along the Bengal-Nepal border with the help of Maoists.

He also added that NDFB top gun B. Anthai alias Onthao is hiding in Nepal.

“NDFB rebels taking shelter in Bengal have raised security concerns, as they may carry out hit-and-run operations in the bordering districts of Assam such as Kokrajhar and Dhubri,” he said.

Assam police will take up the matter with their Bengal counterparts to take follow-up action.

NDFB and Ulfa share close links with the KLO, since all the three outfits had camps in Bhutan.

“As far as Maoists are concerned, despite having different ideologies, the NDFB has managed to forge an alliance with them since they have a common enemy, which is the government of India. Moreover, they might be taking each others’ help in buying arms,” the source said.

“A tie-up between the NDFB and Maoists is not new. It may be recalled that NDFB chairman Ranjan Daimary had issued a statement in November 2009, declaring NDFB’s support to the Maoists. In the statement, Daimary has stated that the Maoists are fighting for their legitimate rights and NDFB will extend all help to them in their fight against the ruling cliques,” he added.