Recovery of illegal arms by Assam Police continues in BTAD

GUWAHATI: Even seven months after the Centre, the Assam Government and all factions of NDFB signed the historic Bodo Peace Accord to put an "end" to the decades-long movement for a Bodoland State, illegal arms and ammunitions are still being recovered from four districts that fall under the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD).

After the Bodo Peace Accord was signed in January 27 this year, the Assam Police has recovered 42 AK Rifles, 3 HK Rifles, 2 SLR, 4 INSAS rifles, 2 LMG/MMG, 25 pistol/revolvers, 3506 ammunitions, 108 hand grenades, 1 rocket launcher, 6 Shells, 1 wireless set, 202 detonators and 20 kg explosive. The police have recovered such arms and ammunitions from Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang and Udalguri districts under the BTAD administration.

Among the recovered arms, the HK Rifles are a melding of German and US engineering into one high-performance weapon. Such highly sophisticated HK Rifle is preferred by military and law enforcement agencies, who rely on these weapons in dangerous scenarios. HK Rifle has not so far been used by Indian security forces.

"Majority of the arms were kept beneath the earth. Based on specific information and intelligence inputs, the Assam Police has been able to unearth these arms. A few of the arms have been damaged as these were believed kept under the earth 10 to 12 years ago," a highly-placed source in Assam Police said.

Top leaders and large number of cadres of all four factions of NDFB had formally laid down their arms after the Bodo Peace Accord was signed in January this year. Sources, however, said there are various reasons behind the continuous recovery of illegal arms in four BTAD districts.

"The top leadership of all factions NDFB may not be aware of existence of such arms. A large number of cadres of NDFB had either quit the outfit or surrendered in the recent years. Many of them died also. These cadres must have kept their arms under the earth and different hideouts. There are possibilities of recovery of man more illegal arms and ammunitions in the coming days," the source said.

IGP (SB) Hiren Chandra Nath told The Sentinel that the Assam Police is now receiving regular information leading to unearthing of such illegal arms at frequent intervals. "It is a good sign that the Assam Police and its different wings are getting specific information and intelligence inputs on regular basis about existence of illegal arms. In the long run, such a development will help in making the BTAD an illegal arms-free zone and usher lasting peace in the area," Nath said.

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