Five kg RDX seized in Meghalaya, ULFA's bomb expert arrested

Shillong, Nov 10 (UNI) In a major breakthrough, the Meghalaya police arrested a United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) militant and seized five kgs RDX from his possession, police said here today.

ULFA ''Sergeant Major'' Luceswar Rabha, alias Ratul Rabha, the bomb specialist of ''109 battalion'', was nabbed last evening by Meghalaya police with the help of the Sikh Regiment from Oidoba village near the Meghalaya-Assam border in West Garo Hills district, Superintendent of Police (SP) J F Marak told UNI over the phone.

The explosives were sent from the banned outfit's camps in Bangladesh, the SP added.

Rabha's arrest assumed significance in the wake of ULFA's ''109th battalion'' reportedly involved in extortion activities at Phulbari, Garobadha, Mendipathar and other adjoining areas in the West Garo Hills district.

Last month, suspected ULFA cadre looted Rs seven lakh from an employee of a cement company.

''We are still gleaning information from Rabha on ULFA's militant activities in Meghalaya, especially Garo Hills,'' Mr Marak said, while refusing to divulge anything on Rabha's confessional statement.

The ''109th battalion'' of the ULFA is active at Phulbari, Garobadha, Mendipathar and other adjoining areas in the West Garo Hills district. The main camps of the battalion are located at Bangladesh's Rangpur, Sherpur and Mymensingh districts.

Madan Koch, the top commander of the ULFA battalion, is believed to be operating from the plain belt of Garo Hills.

Both the Army and Border Security Force sources confirmed that the ULFA is operating from Garo hills, using the border with Bangladesh.

UNI