File picture of KLNLF cadres during the surrender ceremony in Diphu

Nagaon, May 10: The breakaway faction of the Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) has launched an extortion drive in the Nagaon-Karbi Anglong border since the past month.

The 25-member group of militants had stayed away when their colleagues laid down arms on February 11.

The group, led by Amitabh Hanse alias Sarthe Hanse, and christened the KLNLF (Military Council) has imposed “taxes” on goods trucks and business institutions and government employees serving in the interior border areas, Nagaon police sources said.

“Repeated pressure on common people for money has taken a toll on the small businessmen. Government employees refuse to work here for fear of militants. If development projects need to be implemented, all these have to be stopped immediately,” said a contractor engaged in timber collection for Nagaon Paper Mill, the Jagiroad unit of Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited.

The new faction chief, Hanse, is from Selabor village under Dokmoka police station of Karbi Anglong.

Hanse joined the KLNLF in 2004 as a primary member and was later promoted to the position of corporal in the outfit.

“We cannot speak more about Hanse and his associates. What we can say is that he is not among the 412 cadres who laid down arms on February 11,” said KLNLF publicity secretary Rejek Dera.

Karbi Anglong superintendent of police K.K. Sarma said initially the absence of 17 KLNLF cadres were reported on the eve of the arms surrender, but six out of them emerged later.

“The remaining 11 accompanied by a section of anti-social elements emerged in an organised way in some areas near Kaziranga and that report is available with us,” Sarma said.

“Militancy emerged in this part of Assam in 1993 after the formation of Karbi Peoples Front and Karbi National Volunteers. In 1997, the two groups merged and floated the group, United Peoples Democratic Solidarity (UPDS). KLNLF emerged after a faction of UPDS came under a ceasefire pact with the Centre in 2001,” said a source in Karbi Anglong police.

A high-level source in Nagaon administration said that the new faction had sophisticated arms like US-made carbines and AK-series rifles and their movement was limited within the border areas of the two districts, especially from Burhapahar to Pakup hill.

Two of the group’s armed cadres were killed in two separate encounters within that specified location recently. Raju Singh alias Babu Singh Rangpi was gunned down during an encounter at Kuthori under Jakhalabandha police station on May 2.

The slain Karbi cadre was from Jenkha Harlongfar village under Kheroni police station of west Karbi Anglong. A 9mm pistol with some ammunition was found on him.

On Saturday, another cadre of the group was killed in an encounter at Silimkhowa under Bagori police station.

A US carbine and eight live rounds of ammunition were recovered from him.