The militant National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) suffered a body blow on Monday when a joint team of the Army, National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Assam Police apprehended 18 members, including the self-styled commanding officer of ‘13 battalion’ Bikunas Narzary alias Birlangbai in Udalguri and Chirang districts of Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) in Assam.
A joint team of the Army and Assam Police also apprehended eight suspected members of the little-known Karbi Land Protection Force (KLPF) in Karbi Anglong district.
Public Relations Officer (Defence) Lieutenant Colonel Suneet Newton said that based on specific intelligence, a joint operation was launched by the Army Unit of the Red Horns Division stationed in Udalguri, the police and NIA, along the forests of Assam-Arunachal border. Five hardcore NDFB (Songbijit) militants were apprehended.
