Bodo rebels have links in Santhal Pargana: Cops

Dumka: The arrest of Kokrajhar (Assam) native Ipil Murmu from Sahebganj a couple of days ago has established that Assam-based rebel organizations have links in Santhal Pargana. Police said Murmu is the top functionary of National Santhali Liberation Army of Assam, which is a rival of Bodo rebel organization that is infamous for targeting Santhal tribals residing in Assam.
Sahebganj SP Sunil Bhaskar said three FIRs against Murmu were lodged in Borio and Sahebganj police stations apart from several cases lodged against him in Assam. “Assam police is looking forward to take him on remand and have approached us for the purpose,” Bhaskar said.
Murmu for the last several years was residing in the house of his relative Prem Kisku at Fulbhamga under Barhet police station after escaping from Assam. Murmu had formed the National Santhali Liberation Army — a breakaway faction of the Santhal Tiger Force — to counter Bodo outfits in 2007.
“He is the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Assam-based businessmen Omkarmal Agrawala in June. He was the one who demanded a levy of Rs 1.5 crore from the project Manager of Ramkey Road Construction Company engaged in the Asian Development Bank-funded Rs 1,000-crore Govindpur-Sahebganj highway project,” said Bhaskar.
Bhaskar added Murmu was arrested on late evening on Monday from near the site of another road construction company under Jirvabadi police station. A country made firearm, live cartridges and a cell phone were recovered from Murmu’s possession.
Sahebganj police was after Murmu since the kidnapping of Agrawala from the district. He was released under mysterious circumstances after a hefty ransom was reportedly paid to Murmu. Murmu’s recent move to demand levy from Ramkey project manager Rama Murty had put police on toes and he was finally nabbed.
Murmu’s links with Nagaland-based rebel groups has also come to the light following his interrogation by Sahebganj police. “Murmu used to buy firearms from Nagaland-based groups for his outfit by utilizing the amount he made here by extortion” Bhaskar said.
Murmu used to purchase firearms from Nagaland-based groups for his organization by utilizing the amount he made here by extortion and other criminal activities