Operations on to check UPDS

GUWAHATI, March 2 ? The Army and the State Police have launched a vigorous operation along the Assam-Nagaland border in view of spurt in activities of the United People?s Democratic Solidarity militants. A Defence release claimed that the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Issac Muiva (NSCN-IM) and the UPDS activists have started extortion drive in various parts of Karbi Anglong district causing a matter of concern for the people. ?The NSCN-(IM) and the UPDS have come to an agreement to collect funds from the people forcing the security forces to step up operations to contain their activities,? the release added. It may be mentioned here that the police recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from Longnit area after a brief encounter with the UPDS ultras in the district yesterday. Meanwhile highly-placed official sources who are monitoring the situation in the Karbi Anglong district revealed that the NSCN-(IM) leaderhsip reportedly asked the UPDS militants to collect funds and attack the security force personnel deployed in counter-insurgency operations.