Image Credits-India Today NE
In a significant operation, Assam Police have unearthed a cache of explosives and firearms in the Sonitpur district, raising concerns about the lingering remnants of insurgency in the region. The recovery was made early Monday morning from the village of Bilasiguri-Batasipur, falling under the jurisdiction of the Dhekiajuli Police Station.
Assam Director General of Police (DGP) G.P. Singh, in a statement via X(formerly Twitter), confirmed the discovery, describing it as a crucial find. “Five hand grenades of Chinese origin and five hand-made grenades, one pistol, one revolver, and five detonators were recovered this morning,” Singh tweeted, underscoring the potential threat posed by these weapons. The explosives and firearms had been meticulously concealed beneath the earth, reportedly during the days of the now-disbanded National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), a militant group that had long operated in Assam.
The NDFB, once a formidable insurgent group demanding a sovereign Bodoland for the Bodo people, has been largely neutralized following a series of peace accords with the government. However, the recent recovery indicates that remnants of their activities might still pose a latent threat to peace and security in Assam.
Local authorities have launched a thorough investigation to ascertain how the explosives and firearms remained hidden for so long and whether they were intended for future use. Security has been heightened in the area, with a search operation underway to determine if more such caches exist.
This recovery underscores the ongoing challenges faced by security forces in Assam as they work to maintain stability in a region with a complex history of insurgency. The operation marks a reminder of the persistent vigilance required to prevent the resurgence of violence in the northeastern state.