Did ISI commission the terror attack in Assam?

Following the horrific attack at Kokrajhar, Assam in which nearly 14 persons were killed, officers are exploring the money flow which funded this attack. Based on investigations and interrogations conducted in the past, it has been found that a module run by the ISI is pumping funds into the NDFB(S) which is suspected to be behind this attack.

There is clearly an ISI hand in the attacks carried out by the NDFB(S), Intelligence Bureau officials say. Moreover when one studies the pattern of the attack at Assam on Friday, it is clear that it was a very ISI styled operation. The operation carried out yesterday is similar to what one witnesses in Kashmir, officers also point out. The militants hurled grenades to create a smoke screen following which they opened fire on the security forces.

ISI funded attack?

In this context one must revisit the interrogation of two NDFB(S) cadres, Minu Basumatry and Uttam Borgoyary. The two militants during their questioning speak about foreign funds. They say most of the money is coming in through a module in Bangladesh. The IB says that this is an ISI module set up in Bangladesh to move money and arms to militant outfits in the North East.

Further the arrested duo say that most of the money is used to source arms and ammunition. A large chunk of money is paid to the operatives as well. They say that most of the operatives work with the outfit for the money rather than the cause.

The Assam attack could have also been sanctioned to take the heat of the militant outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The entire focus of the security mechanism has shifted to Assam following the attack, officers also say. There was an intelligence alert in Assam issued on August 2 citing the chances of a Pre-Independence day attack. Following the alert a combing operation had been conducted in Kokrajhar in which arms and ammunition were seized and four operatives arrested. However two key operatives gave the security forces the slip.