Dhubri, May 2: A team of 19 Madras regiment and Bilasipara police busted an arms and explosives-manufacturing factory at Kathaldi char (river island) under Bilasipara police station in Dhubri district today.

An activist of the Muslim Liberation Tigers of Assam (Multa), Abu Bakkar Mondal, a resident of Kathaldi char, was arrested. A revolver and four rounds of ammunition were seized from him.

An army source said security forces also recovered a huge amount of equipment used to manufacture weapons and bombs and one IED from Mondal’s residence, where he had allegedly been running the factory.

“Abu Bakkar Mondal confessed that he had been supplying the arms, ammunition and explosives to the militants groups (names not disclosed) operating in this part of the region,” the source added.

Mondal is being interrogated at Bilasipara police station by central and state intelligence officials.

“We do not have problems dealing with the militant organisations which are active and strike back. Because we can then locate their places of operation, the weapons they handle and their motives. But we are seriously worried about the organisations, which indulge in activities that go unnoticed. Multa is that kind of organisation,” a sources in the army said.

Source added that under such circumstances, security forces have to depend entirely upon intelligence inputs coming from the grassroots level.

“Their network, strength and activities are now confined to char areas and the villages located along the Indo-Bangladesh border. They become active whenever a big organisation starts operations. They then serve as a catalyst and provide logistical support,” an intelligence source said.

Dhubri superintendent of police, Hitesh Chandra Roy, said though Multa was now a spent force, it should not be taken lightly.

“Multa activities in Dhubri district have been marginalised but as reported some of them now and then raise their ugly heads in char areas. However, we have a good intelligence network in these areas so there is no dearth of information on their activities. Whenever we get any specific information, an operation is launched immediately,” Roy added.

He said they were examining the weapons, explosives and equipment and it would be ascertained through examination whether they were foreign made or locally procured.

Asked about Mondal’s disclosures during the interrogation, Bilasipara sub-divisional police officer Gunindra Deka said it was not possible to say anything till the interrogation was completed.