TURA: Six militants from two banned outfits of Assam have crossed over into the West Garo Hills border from their hideouts in neighbouring Bangladesh and surrendered to a waiting police team from their state in a top secret operation orchestrated by police from neighbouring Assam on Thursday.
Sources said that the crossing over took place at Dalu’s Killapara border crossing in West Garo Hills district.
Killapara has an international entry-exit point, manned by Indian Customs, and is a major route for export of Indian goods and movement of people.
The entire operation was undertaken by the Special Branch wing (Intelligence unit) of Assam Police which had opened up a channel of communication with the six militants based in the neighbouring country.
The identity of the militants have been kept confidential by Indian security agencies reportedly for ‘operational’ purposes.
However, sources reveal that all six rebels are Indian nationals hailing from Assam who have spent a very long time in Bangladesh operating for the banned outfits. The six militants were directed to head towards the Garo Hills border where a team of Assam police waited to bring them in.
As soon as they crossed over the rebels were bundled into waiting police vehicles and hurriedly driven off under armed escort.
The militants belonged to the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Paresh Barua led ULFA-Independent.
The ULFA has long been known to have camps and safe houses in the Mymensing district and the Chittagong Hill Tracks region of Bangladesh.
Sources have confirmed that dreaded ULFA commander Manoj Rabha alias Dristi Rajkhowa was not part of the surrendered militants who crossed over.
Dristi, who oversaw the operations of the ULFA in Bangladesh providing manpower, weapons and shelter continues to be present in the neighbouring country remaining in close touch with dreaded GNLA chief Sohan D Shira.
This is not the first instance of rebels being either arrested and handed over by Bangladesh authorities or crossing on their own to give themselves up to Indian authorities.
One of the most famous ‘pushbacks’ was that of GNLA chairman and former DSP Champion R Sangma from the Dawki sector of Khasi Hills a few years ago.
