Guwahati: Assam Police on Friday announced further cash reward of Rs 62 lakh on 18 militants of NDFB (Songbijit) and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation leaders following the recent incidents of violence by the former which left eight people dead in the state.
“In addition to cash rewards announced earlier on 15 NDFB(S) militants, we have announced a further Rs three lakh reward each on seven other members of the outfit,” Additional Director General of Police A P Rout told reporters here.
The cash rewards have been announced on the outfit’s self-styled Deputy Commander (Southern Command) B Thaijou, Section Commander (Panbari) Megra, second Incharge of Panbari platoon Jakhrub along with cadres Sijou, Fwthai and Thangkhi.
Police also announced for the first time cash rewards for information on 11 KLO militants which include four top leaders of the outfit, he said.
The police have announced Rs five lakh each on KLO’s General Secretary Keshab Barman, self-styled Commander-in- Chief Shyam Ray, Assistant organising secretary Lal Chand Deka and Cultural Secretary Digambar Rai.
A reward of Rs three lakh each have been announced on the remaining seven cadres Dhananjoy, Samar Barman, Hiranya Ray, Swapan Ray, Brindaban Rajbongshi, Paban and Kaka.
“Any person giving information on these militants would be given the cash award and their identity would be kept secret,” Rout said.
Since the announcement of rewards on information on 15 NDFB(S) leaders, inflow of information increased, he said.
Operations against the NDFB(S) was on and the pressure on the outfit will continue to prevent any further incidents of violence, IGP (Law and Order) S N Singh said.
“The reason behind the recent spurt in violence could be their desperation due to pressure of security forces on them,” Singh said.
The strength of NDFB(S) was estimated to be between 125 to 150 while that of KLO was between 175 to 200, he said adding both the organisations have some camps in Bangladesh but they have more camps in Myanmar.
“The KLO has been reorganising for the last two years and there are 12 members in their Central council with six members each from West Bengal and Assam,” the IGP said.
The KLO was earlier supported by ULFA but now they are not dependent on the outfit. Singh said ULFA was trying to create panic, as they do every year, during the run-up to the Republic Day and “we have information about the entry of two militants into Guwahati to create disturbances before the Day”.
Two others, suspected to be carrying bombs for carrying out subversive acts in Guwahati, were killed when the bombs exploded on the way at Umrangshu in Dima Hasao district.
“The ULFA threat has been always there before such events and we have effectively tackled it with intensified security so that people can come out and observe the day as they have been doing earlier,” Singh added. (PTI)
Nagaland bound trucks stuck for 96-hour Karbi bandh in Assam
Kohima: Several vehicles, including tracks carrying essential commodities, bound for Nagaland and Manipur are stranded in different parts of Assam following 96-hour Karbi Anglong bandh called by Karbi Peoples’ Liberation Tigers (KPLT), an armed outfit operating in Karbi Anglong district of Assam from 5 A.M. Friday morning.
According to the KPLT outfit, the bandh, called to boycott Republic Day celebrations, will be in effect for 96 hours beginning from 5am on January 24 to 5am on January 28. KPLT has said the Republic Day should be viewed as a ‘black day’.
The announcement has come even as the Journalists Forum of Assam asked people in the region to defy the ‘diktats’ of various militant organizations to boycott Republic Day.
Following the announcement, transporters are making a hasty move to reach their destinations before the bandh comes into effect.
However, the trucks are stranded in bee-line on various national highways and various parts of Karbi Anglong district and arrangements have been reportedly made that that armed police escort will be provided for vehicles in convoy plying National Highways 29 and 36 till the bandh concludes. (UNI)