Security forces to launch operation against Karbi rebels soon

Guwahati, April 27 (IANS) Police and security forces in Assam will soon launch a special operation against the Karbi Peoples' Liberation Tigers (KPLT) militants in Karbi Anglong district of the state, following the outfit's threats of attacking leaders of the local council.

Sources in the Assam Police Friday said a special operation team had already been formed involving police and the central paramilitary forces, which would carry out the flushing-out operation against the militants in the district.

The outfit had recently warned of attacking police and security forces and the leaders of the Congress-ruled Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) in the hill district to protest against the killing of five KPLT cadres including its general secretary Nirlip Inghy.

A joint security forces team killed the five cadres of the outfit at Borpung village under Chokihali police outpost in the district, about 300 km away from Assam's main city Guwahati on April 20.

The forces had also recovered two AK-56 rifles, two carbines, two pistols, ammunition, one radio set and one wireless set from the slain militants.

'The KPLT had already stepped up its extortion drives and kidnappings in the district in the last few months. The outfit had made lives of the common people miserable in the Hill district. We have decided to launch a full fledged flush out operation against them,' said a senior police official, adding that the operation will be launched very soon.

On the area of operation of the militants, the police official however, said that the KPLT's area of operation is restricted to Karbi Anglong only.

'We have received much of the complaints against the extortion drives by the KPLY from the hill district only,' he said and added that some of the cadres of the outfit are also based in neighbouring state of Nagaland.