National Democratic Front of Bodoland (S) ordered Assam attack from base in Bhutan: DG Police

The strength of the Songbijit faction had declined over the past year and a half, owing to the diligent efforts of the security forces.

New Delhi, August 7: The attack in a market in Assam which left 14 people dead is believed to have been carried out on the orders of the Songbijit  faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland or the NDFB (S) leaders based out of Bhutan, Assam Police said on Saturday.

Speaking to the Sunday Express, Director General of Assam Police, Mukesh Sahay said that since the strength of the militant group had declined over the past year and a half, owing to the diligent efforts of the security forces and therefore, it had established a base in the neighbouring country.

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“Both (G Bidai and Batha Mushahary; top leaders of the outfit) are currently holed up inside Bhutan,” he said. “It is from there that the duo have been trying to carry out extortions and recruitment for the NDFB(S). Friday’s dastardly incident in Balajan Tiniali was also carried out on instructions from there”.

Bidai and Mushahary would not have more than 10 to 12 cadres, he added. I K Singbijit, the chairman and commander-in-chief of NDFB (S) is believed to be in Myanmar. ‘He has been trying to carry out fresh recruitments in Kokrajhar and other districts from there,” DGP Sahay said.

After the attack took place on Friday, a number of security review meetings have taken place in Kokrajhar. The meeting on Saturday included DGP Sahay, ADGP R M Singh, Additional Chief Secretary T Y Das and other high ranking security officials. The security forces plan on intensifying the operations in the region.

A National Investigative Agency team on Saturday was collecting information and speaking to eyewitnesses. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the state Finance Minister visited the site. He has been informed about the identity of the attacker, Manjay Islari. “He was a self-styled area commander of 16th battalion of the NDFB(S) faction. We will give the body to his parents,” he said in a statement.