ULFA suffers setback as Army mounts offensive

Guwahati, June 9 (UNI) Additional forces have fanned out to the Namdapha Reserve Forest in Arunachal Pradesh where the Army and Asom Rifles have launched a major military operation against ULFA, after two top leaders of the outfit were arrested in Asom today.

Despite heavy downpours which have increased the water levels of rivulets passing through the forest, operations have been intensified to flush out the rebels suspected to have taken shelter there after the Army's crackdown in the nearby Manabum jungles, defence sources said.

An Army source said supply of essential commodities to the cadres inside the jungles has been cut off.

The Army suspects food supplies and medical aid to the cadres inside the forest are through the nearby Mao area and villages in the outskirts of the forest.

''We are ensuring that food and medical aid do not reach the rebels inside the jungle,'' the source said.

Armed with the latest in weaponry and night vision devices, the security forces, deployed for the massive operation are exclusively trained in counter terrorist operations.

No reports of casualties have been received so far.

Earlier in the day, troops of the 19 Kumaon Regiment apprehended selfstyled 2nd Lieutenant Diwakar Moran alias Robin Baruah alias Dharmeshwar Deori minutes after he left Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh for Tinsukia in upper Asom.

Based in Nepal since 2006, Diwakar was in charge of procurement and supply of arms and ammunition and foreign relations, the Army claimed.

Being number three in the hierarchy of the ULFA's main strike force, the '28th battalion', Diwakar Moran has been designated as the new company commander of the 'A Company' of 28th 'Battalion'.

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