Army arrests wanted terrorist in Assam

Guwahati, July 26: In a major success, the Army has arrested Commander-in-chief of United People's Liberation Army (UPLA) Nikunja Kathar along with two cadres.

In a joint operation by Army and police on Monday, Kathar, who was wanted in the brutal killing of Nityananda Goswami, the Superintendent of Police of West Karbi Anglong district, in June 2014, was arrested along with two accomplices, Army officials said.

Continuous inputs from various intelligence agencies about planned sabotage activities in Assam during the period preceding Independence Day were being monitored closely, the officials said.

Kathar is suspected to be involved in several acts of killing, extortion and abductions. He is an ex-UPDS cadre who was instrumental in raising, training and illegally equipping terror outfit UPLA. Kathar was arrested in 2014 but went absconding since he was granted bail in November 2014.

Preliminary interrogation has confirmed his recent visit to Myanmar, where he was in talks with NSCN(K), ULFA(I) and KPLT under umbrella of the UNLFWSEA (United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia) to revive UPLA in the hill districts and also to execute sabotage activities, including IED blasts in Assam in the run up to Independence Day next month, officials said.

Kathar was also carrying out reconnaissance of specific areas in East amd West Karbi Anglong for establishment of training camps and recruitment of new cadres.

PTI