Dhubri/Kokrajhar, May 10: Security forces have launched a fresh operation to flush out militants of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) from the Mahamaya forest in Dhubri district. The forces have also tightened security in the Adivasi and Bodo-dominated areas of the Lower Assam districts where ethnic tension is brewing.
Tension gripped the Adivasi and Bodo-dominated areas of Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts after two Adivasis were killed by suspected NDFB militants. The incident triggered retaliatory attacks by Santhal miscreants.
Residents alleged that the Kokrajhar district administration had yesterday added fuel to the fire by urging the people not to pay heed to “rumours” on ethnic tension in the area.
The announcement sparked panic among the villagers, who started fleeing the district in search of “safer destinations”.
Dhubri additional superintendent of police Nitul Gogoi said the army, paramilitary forces and police had launched the joint operation following reports of escalation in militant activities in the area.
Four persons — two Adivasis, a former armyman and a surrendered Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) militant — were killed and a lower primary school headmaster abducted by NDFB militants over the past two weeks.
In retaliation, Adivasi miscreants killed two Bodos and injured two others a few days ago.
The killings set off an alarm in neighbouring Kokrajhar district. The district administration on Saturday convened called an emergency meeting with the top security officers to figure out ways to defuse the tension.
The NDFB today received a jolt when 10 of its activists, led by self-styled company commander of the outfit’s eastern command Gabba Basumatary, surrendered at the 5 Assam Rifles base in Charduar in Sonipur district.
Basumatary, hailing from Lalbarohi village, had joined the outfit in 1993 and was trained in Bhutan. He said that frustrated with the “absentee” leadership and the Bhutan flushout, the rebels had decided to surrender.