'National Santhal Liberation Army' Cadre Nabbed in Assam's Kokrajhar

Gossaigaon, January 14, 2019:

A cadre belonging to the National Santhal Liberation Army (anti talks faction) was nabbed in Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar district of Kokrajhar of Assam on Monday.

According to official reports, the cadre was apprehended during a joint operation conducted by the local authorities and the SSB personnel. An SBPL gun and bearing balls were also recovered from the cadre.

The apprehended NSLA cadre has been identified as Mangal Murmu (21), a resident of Balahaon that falls under the Soraibil Police Station in Gossaigon.

Formed in 2005, the NSLA is a splinter group of five militant outfits, which claim to be fighting for the cause of the Adivasis.

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The groups are – Adivasi People's Army (APA), Adivasi Cobra Militants of Assam (ACMA), Birsa Commando Force (BCF), Santhali Tiger Force (STF), and All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA).

The new outfit was formed after the five militant outfits surrendered their arms and ammunition on 24 January 2012 at Guwahati paving the way for peace talks.

The other four outfits who surrendered were Hmar Peoples Convention (Democratic), Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) and United Kuki Defence Army (UKDA). The group is influential among the plantation workers in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Udalguri districts of the BTAD.

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