NDFB camps facing food shortage

GUWAHATI, April 5: As part of the army's drive to prevent ration supply from reaching militants, militant outfits in Assam are facing an acute shortage of food in their camps along the Bhutan border. Defence sources said that in desperation, the NDFB militants had contacted a middleman of Chamrang village to procure food supply. In a major operation, Army troops of the Red Horns Division operating in Darrang district, also exposed a nexus between the NDFB and villagers along the international border. Army apprehended the middlemen Bir Bahadur Niwar last week and recovered Rs 13,400, including Rs 530 worth of Bhutanese currency, along with the written hand note from the militant outfit. During interrogation, the linkman revealed that he had been detailed to arrange and deliver 100 quintals of rice initially at Debrali, six km inside Bhutan and later negotiated for Satpuri, two km inside the international border, sources added.