Eight cadre of the anti-talk faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militants, including one of the mastermind of December 23 massacre, were arrested by a joint team of police and Army from near the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam’s Chirang districts on Tuesday.
Those arrested included Enon Bargoyary alias Erkhang and Rinen Basumatary alias Majhi, two senior cadres of the outfit, a statement issued by the Army said on Tuesday. While Enon is a central committee member of the outfit, Basumatary used to be platoon commander, the statement said here.
Enon is the brain behind the Decemeber 23 massacre of civilians in Kokrajhar district, the security forces said adding that he was also close to outfit’s top leadership including faction’s chairman IK Songbijit, its Army chief G Bedai and deputy army chief Batha. Enon was involved in recruiting new cadre including women cadre and sending them to various camps outside the country and motivating them.
Basumatary on the other hand is a Bhutan trained cadre of the outfit and surrendered after Operation All Clear in 2003. However, he rejoined the NDFB's anti-talk faction two years back.
It may be mentioned here that Army, the central paramilitary forces and Assam police have been carrying out relentless operations in difficult and inaccessible forested areas of Kokrajhar and Chirang Districts which has forced the NDFB factions to flee from their safe hideouts and move to more vulnerable areas, where they are being apprehended.
On January 11 the security forces in Assam had arrested 12 senior leaders of the outfit from near the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam's Chirang district on Tuesday.