Guwahati, Jan. 1: The Karbi Anglong district president of All-Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA), Anil Toppo, surrendered at Bokajan police station today.

Toppo’s name figured in police list as “most wanted” for his alleged links with the militant Adivasi National Liberation Front (ANLA), especially after the Beltola incident on November 24.

There were reports that a group of ANLA militants had recently left the outfit and formed a new group under Toppo’s leadership.

The officer in charge of Bokajan police station, Biswajeet Purukayastha, said no case has been registered against Toppo till now.

“We were looking for him because of certain reports we received of his links with ANLA. A case will only be registered after we find proof during interrogation.”

Toppo has been sent to the district headquarters at Diphu for interrogation. The AASAA leader is likely be brought to the police headquarters here for further grilling.

Sources in the police headquarters here said there were enough indications to prove that Toppo has links with the militant outfit.

He was even involved in several sabotage activities. “He has been working for the outfit under the guise of an AASAA leader. It was difficult for us to pin him since he was a student leader.”

ANLA was formed in 2004 at the Doyang Nahortoli M.E. School under Merapani police station, under the leadership of Nirmal Tirki alias David, with the aim of fighting for the cause of the Adivasis.

Tirki, sources said, had shifted to Jharkhand recently after security forces launched an operation against the outfit.

The state government has been contemplating a ban on ANLA, which have become very active after the Beltola incident. Earlier, the outfit’s activities were mainly confined to Karbi Anglong and Golaghat districts. Recently, six cadres, including a senior leader, were arrested from different parts of the capital. Four others were arrested in Tinsukia, who confessed that they were assigned to attack the Rajdhani Express.

Security has been tightened in the Adivasi-dominated areas of Karbi Anglong. “The district has a sizeable Adivasi population and Toppo has a strong influence in the community. There may be protests if Toppo is arrested for his links with the ANLA,” sources said.