SSB cuts supply of ration to Bodo rebels

GUWAHATI: Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) officials on Saturday said they have been able to cut off ration supply to militants holed up in Bhutan substantially because of stepped up counter-insurgency operations against the anti-talks faction of National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) along the international border in western Assam.
SSB officials said since June, all possible entry points along the international border, generally used by the militants to carry ration to cadres holed up in foothills of Bhutan, have been plugged.
The SSB mans the 267-km India-Bhutan border in Assam.
“We have information that the cutting off of the supply line has resulted in significant shortage of ration for leaders and cadres taking shelter in Bhutan. There is also desperation among the cadres to cross the border either for access to ration or surrender,” said an SSB official.
Operations have been intensified in forest areas spanning over Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri districts bordering Bhutan to prevent militants from supplying ration across the border.
On Friday, the 15 Battalion of SSB based at Kajalgaon in Kokrajhar district nabbed three suspected militants of the outfit when they crossed the border and entered the forest area adjoining Manas National Park. While interrogation of militants is still on, SSB officials said these cadres could also be dispatched for supplying ration to the camps in Bhutan.
SSB officials said the three suspected militants lobbed a grenade while they were trying to run away. “Fortunately, the grenade did not explode. We also recovered a 9 mm pistol and ammunition from them,” added an SSB official.
Also on Friday, a joint operation by the Army and police led to the nabbing of a worker of the armed outfit at Labanyapur in Kokrajhar. According to intelligence agencies, 40-odd anti-talk NDFB militants, including leaders BBidai and Batha, were taking shelter in the foothills of Bhutan. Following intensified operations after the December 2014 massacre of Adivasis, many cadres were killed and apprehended by security forces.