The arrested rebels at Hamren in Karbi Anglong. Telegraph picture
Guwahati, Feb. 16: Security forces today claimed to have nabbed all leaders of Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT), a militant group in central Assam's Karbi Anglong district, with the arrest of its 'commander-in-chief', his deputy and five 'area commanders' today.
A joint team of the army troops of Dogra regiment in Jagiroad and police nabbed Sunder Dera, commander-in-chief, his deputy Danger Ingti and five area commanders, on the second day of their operation inside Amring forest in Hamren police district in Karbi Anglong.
The team yesterday arrested the outfit's finance secretary, Birton Timung, and two others at Karbi Rongsope village. The group's chairman, Dondri Kramsa, was arrested on February 11 while its general secretary, Raham Lijung, was arrested in July last year.
'As of today, all their leaders have been arrested and only 10 to 15 cadres are still at large,' Haren superintendent of police Debojit Deori told The Telegraph today.
Some disgruntled members of rebel group Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) formed the KPLT, headed by Kramsa, soon after it laid down arms and was disbanded in 2010. Security forces have arrested over 70 cadres of KPLT in the past year and killed 12, following largescale extortion from people, including government employees, in the hill district. Sources said the KPLT cadres who are still at large might form another group and elect their leaders to carry out extortion.
The Telegraph recently reported that at least seven splinter militant groups, formed in the past two years, were extorting from people even as two major rebel groups - KLNLF and United People's Democratic Solidarity - were disbanded following talks with the government.
Defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneet Newton said security forces had to traverse for over 16 hours through thick forests before they managed to cordon off a hideout early today. 'There was a gun battle for about 45 minutes before the team managed to arrest the seven. The hideout was stocked with ration, clothing and medicines,' Newton said.
Four AK series rifles, two pistols, one grenade launcher, 14 magazines of AK rifles, six magazines of pistols, 2,343 rounds of 7.62 calibre ammunition, 14 rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition, dummy rifles for training of new recruits, extortion notes and other documents were recovered. The operation was intensified after the Centre rushed additional forces in December.