Major arms haul on Assam–Aruchal border

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, January 18: In a major breakthrough in the investigation into the NDFB(S) violence, the NIA recovered a huge cache of weapons of the Bodo outfit hidden along the Assam–Aruchal border. The operation was carried out with the help of army and police on the intervening night of 17th and 18th January.

The cache included two AK 56 rifles, one HK 33 rifle, two HE gredes, one M 20 pistol, three M20 rounds, one M16 rifle rounds, 123 5.56 mm rounds, 223 AK rounds, two HK magazines, five AK magazines and three ammunition pouches. Certain incrimiting documents were also recovered in the search.

The weapons were found from a hideout inside the Papum Reserve Forest in Sonitpur district. The recovery was made on the basis of the disclosure made by the arrested accused – Ajoi Basumatary alias B.Buhum (32) who is the self–styled commander of 3rd battalion of NDFB (S). It was under his direction and leadership that recent killings took place in Sonitpur district of Assam on December 23 in which, 36 persons including women and children were killed and six persons were injured.