Assam attack: Army to intensify operations against NDFB, says Gen Suhag

New Delhi, Dec 26: Army is going to intensify its operations against the NDFB militants, who carried out a deadly attack on tribals in Assam leaving more than 70 people dead. "We are definitely going to intensify our operations in Assam," Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag told reporters here after a meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

The Home Minister, who returned to the national capital last evening after a two-day visit to Assam to take stock of the situation there arising out of the violence perpetrated by the Bodo militant group, discussed the situation in the state with Suhag.

"The meeting was to review the security situation in Assam," the Army Chief said. Suhag said 66 army columns (70 personnel in each column) have been deployed in Assam for counter insurgency operations. The GoC of the 4 Corps, located in the worst-hit Sonitpur district, heads the Unified Command which conducts the counter insurgency operations in Assam.

Sources said the Home Minister asked the Army Chief to ensure that peace returns to the violence-hit areas and there is no flare up. Singh told Suhag that army presence should be increased on the field in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, where there is a presence of NDFB militants.

Sources said the Home Minister is believed to have discussed the issue of coordinated operations with armies of Bhutan and Myanmar against the NDFB which has bases in the two neighbouring countries. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has already spoken to the Bhutan government which assured her of action against terror outfit. Myanmar has also given assurance to flush out terrorists from their territories.

Suhag told Singh that local Army commanders have been directed to ensure peace and bring confidence among common people, the sources said. The Home Minister had yesterday promised a "time-bound" action against the Bodo militant group which carried out the massacre of Adivasi tribals, ruling out talks with the insurgent outfit. The death toll in the carnage and retaliatory violence by tribals rose to 78.

PTI