Five Assam insurgents nabbed in Meghalaya

Shillong, Sep 5 (UNI) The Special Operation Team in Meghalaya arrested five Assam-based militants, including a publicity leader of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), from different areas of the state, police said today.

Four militants of the pro-talks faction of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) were nabbed late last night from Police Bazar area, downtown of Shillong.

Police also seized Rs 3.60 lakh from the DHD cadres who came from Assam's Umrangshu area to Shillong to purchase arms from dealers.

Of the five nabbed militants, one 'sergeant' Ram Bhadur Bhatt alias Mosto Dimasa confirmed to be an active member of the pro-talks faction, Superintendent of Police AR Mawthoh said.

Mr Mawtoh, however, said police was still cross-examining the three persons - Borson Ronghang, Francis Malik and Sanjib Chetry - who were arrested with Bhatt.

In another arrest, the Special Operation Team arrested an NDFB publicity leader Nilim Daimary from Tura in West Garo Hills district of the state.

Daimary, member of the NDFB's publicity wing came from the outfit's designated camp in Udalguri district of Assam with the sole intention to crossover to Bangladesh via Dalu.

Police seized a pen drive which contained data giving graphic details on the assembling of various time bombs, backed with photographs. A Bangladesh Grameen Phone SIM card was also recovered from his possession.

The pen drive also included a letter reportedly written to NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary alias D R Nabla based in Bangladesh.

''He was supposed to arrive at Nokchi village from where two NDFB militants were supposed to escort him to Bangladesh through the Garo Hills border,'' a police official said.

Meanwhile, police registered a case against the arrested members.

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