Assam: Six NDFB cadres released from Bhutanese jail

Udalguri: Six former cadres of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), who were held in a Bhutanese prison in Gelephu, were released after completing their sentence terms on Friday.

They were arrested by the Royal Bhutan Army in 2016 during a crackdown on militant activities in the Himalayan kingdom.

The extradition took place at the Daragon-Gelephu border, where Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) CEM Pramod Boro, other high-ranking BTR officials, and Assam Rajya Sabha MP Joyonto Basumatary were present.

The cadres were handed over to Dilaranjan Narzary, the General Secretary of the United Forum of Ex-NDFB Karigaon, by representatives of the Royal Bhutan Police.

Those released included Jiban Basumatary from Chirang, Sonaram Mosahary from Kokrajhar, Sanam Mongar from Kokrajhar, Birmal Basumatary from Chirang, Dilip Basumatary from Chirang, and Farhan Narzary from Chirang. Mosahary was arrested in 2012, while the other five were arrested in June 2016.

According to reports, all of the released cadres were in good health and condition during their extradition to India.

BTR CEM Pramod Boro stated to the media that another former NDFB cadre, currently serving a jail term in Nepal, is likely to be brought back to India soon.

"We are working to secure the release of the NDFB cadre from Nepal," he said, adding that Kokrajhar East MLA Lawrence Islary and BTR MCLA Madhav Chandra Chetry have already visited him in Nepal.

Sources said that all of the released cadres are currently in the custody of Assam Police in Guwahati. The police will verify if they are wanted in any criminal cases or if they are declared absconders by any court of law. Following due process of law, they will be released subsequently.