As many as 31 militants surrendered before the Army in Assam’s Tinsukia district on February 11. The surrendered militants belonged to the Karbi Longri North Cachar Liberation Front (KLNLF), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)1.

Meanwhile, four ULFA militants were killed following an encounter with a joint team of the army and police in Assam’s Sibsagar district on February 162. Earlier on February 11, four persons, including an Assam police personal, were killed and two more wounded when militants belonging to the Jewel Gorlosa-led faction of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) ambushed a convoy of NEEPCO officials in Assam’s North Cachar Hills district3.

Telegraph quoting Congress party’s tea cell and Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangh, has reported that tea estates in Assam were turning into Maoist breeding grounds and are reportedly instigating the Adivasi community. The police suspect a link between Maoists and the Adivasi National Liberation Army (ANLA), which had become active in recent times4.

Elsewhere, an Air Deccan staffer, Sumanta Dutta, was arrested on February 11 for allegedly helping the ULFA plan to hijack airplane from the region. The accused reportedly passed sensitive information about the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati5.

• 1. “31 rebels surrender in Tinsukia”, Sentinel, February 12, 2008, at http://sentinelassam.com/sentinel_en/main%20news.htm
• 2. 4 militants killed”, The Hindu, February 16, 2008, at http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/17/stories/2008021750300100.htm
• 3. “4 die in DHD ambush”, Telegraph, February 12, 2008, at http://telegraphindia.com/1080212/jsp/frontpage/story_8891997.jsp
• 4. Tea cell rings Maoist alarm - Team advises CM to cleanse gardens”, Telegraph, February 13, 2008, at http://telegraphindia.com/1080213/jsp/northeast/story_8894590.jsp
• 5. “Lid off hijack plot - Deccan staffer arrested for helping Ulfa”, Telegraph, February 12, 2008, at http://telegraphindia.com/1080212/jsp/frontpage/story_8891996.jsp