Adivasi Dragon Fighter Area Commander Arrested in Kokrajhar

Kokrajhar: Based on input, an operation was launched by the security forces along with the support of police personnel from Karigaon Outpost led by ASI Hemanto Kalita at Village Dhubragaon, Kokrajhar on Friday.

The joint operations team reached the house of the suspected individual at around 12.15 am and a cordon was established by Army at around 12.30 am around the house of the suspected individual.

After confirmation by active sources, at around 1245 am, Police began the search operation in the house on which one suspected individual was apprehended.

The suspected individual identified as Ramajit Hembrom (29) son of Dhena Hembrom, a resident of Dhubragaon located in Karigaon under Kokrajhar District was questioned on spot.

It is also suspected that the individual belongs to an insurgent group. Later, during the interrogation, the suspected individual confessed himself to be the cadre of Adivasi Dragon Fighter (ADF).

After extensive search operation at the individual's house, 03(three) IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and one Kitbag were recovered from his possession.

A medical examination of the individual was carried by 7 am at RNB civil hospital and he was handed over to Police at Karigaon Police Station.

FIR was lodged by Kokrajhar PS by 1 pm on 14 June 2019.

As per media reports, several programs and activities had signified the intensity of the Adivasi movement for identity assertion. Since previous demands of the Adivasis for the inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list has been rejected by the Central government under the controversial categorization as ‘Tea Tribe and Ex-Tea Tribe; the AASAA after its inception in 1996 led the movement for unification of all the tea garden labour community and Ex-tea garden labour population under ‘Adivasi’ identity collectively.

The emergence of several organizations under the name Adivasi also signifies their growing assertion of Adivasi identity. They include Adivasi Sahitya Sabha (ASS), All Adivasi Women’s Association of Assam (AAWAA), Adivasi Cobra Militants of Assam (ACMA), Adivasi National Liberation of Assam (ANLA), Adivasi Peoples’ Army (APA), Adivasi Dragon Fighters (ADF) etc.

Further, the foundation of the Adivasi Mahasabha and its annual conventions greatly contributed in the Adivasi identity assertion. Such efforts have convinced the State Government to recognize the Adivasi identity.

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