Guwahati blast accused among five held in Meghalaya

Shillong, Jan 10 (PTI) Two hardcore NDFB ultras, oneof them accused in the 2008 Guwahati blasts and another amastermind of the serial killings in Assam in November lastyear, were today arrested along with four others in Ri Bhoidistrict of Meghalaya.

Acting on a tip-off, a special team of Meghalaya Policeraided a hide-out in Byrnihat, about 90 kms from here, in RiBhoi district bordering Assam, and rounded up the ultras,including self-styled sergeant major Mathuram Brahma aliasMudoi, an accused in the October 2008 serial Guwahati blasts,a state police officer said.

Also arrested in the operation was self-styledcommander Lachit Boro alias Haijang alias Langana, themastermind in the serial gunnings that the NDFB carried in thewestern Assam districts, mostly in Sonitpur, killing more than20 people in November last year, after one of their cadre wasgunned down by security forces, the officer said.

Boro was also responsible for abducting Maharashtraforest department officer Vilas Bardekar in Arunachal Pradeshlast year. The IFS officer was released after 78 days, hesaid.

The arrested militant, ''commander of the easternregion'' of the banned outfit, reportedly confessed to havetaken Rs 1 crore for his release.

"Mudoi, the Guwahati blast accused, has beencharge-sheeted by the CBI in the case. The two are very bigcatches as security forces were looking for them for quitesometime now," IGP (Northern Range), Assam police, G P Singhtold PTI over phone.

The other arrested cadre are Nichiram Basumatary, NakulBoro and Dharmeswar Brahma.

A local tribal, believed to be an accomplice in whosehouse the NDFB cadre were put up, was also picked up.

Meghalaya Police said the NDFB cadre had entered Indiafrom Bangladesh side on February 7 through state�s West KhasiHills border.

"They had opted to take rest for a day at Byrnihatbefore entering Assam," they said.

The arrested rebels were today produced at the courtwhich remanded them to five days'' police custody.