Two NDFB(S) militants arrested in Assam along with arms

Two militants of NDFB-Songbijit faction, which had massacred over 70 people in lower Assam districts in December, and another person who had provided shelter to one of them was arrested and arms were seized from them in lower Assam's Chirang district.

Chirang Superintendent of Police Ranjan Bhuyan on Thursday said one NDFB-S rebel was apprehended from Chapaguri under Dhaligaon police station and another from Bhauraguri village under Sidli police station last night. The one apprehended at Chapaguri was identified as Bairo and one 7.65 mm pistol and four rounds of ammunition was seized from him when he was travelling in a bus from Tezpur to Kokrajhar, he said.

Bairo operates from Biswanath Chariali area of Sonitpur district, which was the worst affected in the massacre, he added. The other militant Bimal Basumatary was arrested along with a grenade at Bhauraguri village under Sidli police station, the SP said. A person identified as Bhaben Mushahary who gave shelter to Basumatary and a resident of Batasipur under Dhekiajuli police station of Sonitpur district was also arrested, he added.