Assam: Extortion racket running in name of KLO and BLA in BTR busted, 7 arrested

In a major success in its drive against terror groups in the state, Assam police on Sunday busted a terror group that was indulging in extortion activities in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and arrested 7 persons of the gang.

The insurgent group was targeting government officials and businessmen in the name of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) and Boro Liberation Army (BLA) in the BTR region.

Assam police have arrested the seven cadres of the group from different parts of Assam, Nagaland and West Bengal, said the Director General of Police (DGP) of Assam, GP Singh.

The arrested cadres have been identified as– Dadhiram Boro (43), Amit Boro (39), Rengwana Brahma from Udalguri district, Bhumsa Chandra Boro (23) of Darrang, Kajal rai of Tamulpur, Buddhiram Debbarma(45) and Bijoy Teron (23) of Karbi Anglong.

“Assam Police has busted the entire network of fledgling terrorist gang that wanted to start extortion in name of KLO and BLA in BTR area of Assam. Total seven persons have been arrested from different parts of Assam, Nagaland and West Bengal,” GP Singh tweeted on Sunday.

It may be mentioned here that in March this year, up to 10 traders in Gurufela near Gossaigaon have reportedly received extortion notices from KLO demanding Rs 5 lakh.

Several businessmen received letters from the banned organisation on their letterhead, and several traders even received messages from Bangladesh demanding payment.

Earlier, ASP Kokrajhar Nabanita Sharma on KLO demand notes assured the people about their safety and promised to take swift action against those responsible for such criminal activities.