In a major breakthrough, Meghalaya police on Wednesday arrested a top leader of a newly formed Assam-based extremist group, the National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB) from the State’s West Jaintia Hills district.
Acting on a tip-off about the movement of NLFB extremists in the Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya police arrested Jotish Daimary (42) from Amlarem area in West Jaiñtia Hills district.
Police seized six mobile phones, including three smart phones and three keypad phones besides a vehicle bearing registration number AS-01 AE 4845 and incriminating documents from his possession.
Daimary a former member of the disbanded National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) laid down arms in January 2020, after the Centre signed the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) pact with four factions of the NDFB and the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU).
Also read: Assam: At least 40 Congress candidates shifted to Dichang Resort in Sonapur near Guwahati
He had joined the NDFB in 2009 and underwent for arms training in Bangladesh through Mahendranj area in Meghalaya’s South West Garo Hills district.
“We are interrogating him to find out about his movement and associates in Meghalaya,” a police official said, adding that Daimary was wanted in several cases of kidnapping, murder and other criminal activities in East, West Jaintia Hills and also Ri-Bhoi district of the State.
Meanwhile, Daimary has been handed to Ri-Bhoi police in connection with criminal cases registered against him,” police official said.
Apparently, the arrested NLFB leader was on his way to the international border to “strike an arms deal”, according to a senior police official.