Even as the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) claimed they had killed eight security personnel in an ambush in the Manas National Park along the India-Bhutan border in the late hours of Tuesday, the Assam government on Wednesday denied the forces had suffered any casualties.
Speaking to The Quint, Assam Home Secretary LS Changsan said,
No security personnel was killed. The army and state police commandos had an exchange of fire with NDFB(S) insurgents who left behind a huge cache of rations and other items before fleeing deep into the jungles contiguous with the Bhutan border.
– LS Changsan, Assam Home Secretary
Changsan confirmed that the joint operation of the army and Assam police commandos was “still on”. She said that a few days ago, NDFB(S) rebels were attacked by police commandos in Buxa close to the tri-junction of Assam, West Bengal and Bhutan.
At that time the insurgents left behind a huge amount of ration in the well-fortified camp.
– LS Changsan, Assam Home Secretary
In an attempt to wipe out the NDFB-S, the Indian army, along with Assam police, launched a major offensive in the Manas National Park area on Tuesday evening. But NDFB-S insurgents, who have made the sanctuary their hideout, were alerted. In the ensuing exchange of fire, the NDFB(S) rebels fled.
At least 50 NDFB(S) rebels are currently hiding in Bhutan in the interiors of Manas wildlife sanctuary. We have information that the group also includes Kailash Koch, the general secretary of Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), and some of their top commanders.
– Senior Official to Deccan Herald
The attack comes in the wake of recent operations in Myanmar.
Indian government has been in talks with the Bhutan government on the issue and have sought help of the Bhutanese Royal Army in the operation.
Another round of talks are scheduled in New Delhi on June 18.
According to a Deccan Herald report, the Home Ministry said that the border will be sealed off when the attack is launched, to trap the militants outside the border and prevent them from entering the Assam or West Bengal border.
Incidentally, a report in The Assam Tribune says that a group called All Assam Bengali Youth-Students’ Federation has announced a 12-hour bandh today in Assam to protest against the mis-treatment of Hindu-Bengali immigrants.
Details of the attack are awaited.
National Democratic Front of Bodoland
The group calls itself representatives of the ethnic group ‘Bodo’ in Assam.
NDFB had, in December 2014, attacked the adivasis in Sonitpur and Kokhrajar districts of Assam. The death toll of the attacks had touched 80.
In January this year, several people involved in the attack were arrested including Sanju Bordoloi and Bikhang Basumatri, top NDFB militants who were hiding in Bangalore.
The group was found in possession of considerable gun-power.
Four other Bodo militants were arrested in Bangalore on June 13.
The current attack is aimed at wiping out the group completely.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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