Police raise truce breach with rebels

UPDS denies hand, ‘disowns’ member

Waisang Terang being taken to court in Guwahati on Thursday. He was sent to three days’ police custody. Picture by Eastern Projections Guwahati, Feb 13 : Assam police have “strongly” taken up the matter of violation of ceasefire ground rules by a “sergeant major” of the United People’s Democratic Solidarity with the top leadership of the Karbi group. UPDS leader Waisang Terang, 25, was arrested on February 5 for his alleged involvement in the abduction of two school students from here last month for ransom. Senior superintendent of police (City) P.C. Saloi today said the police had brought the matter of violation of ground rules to the notice of higher authorities at Assam police headquarters. “The joint monitoring group, which keeps a watch on the ceasefire, has been apprised of the matter. It is understood to have discussed it with the top brass of the UPDS,” Saloi said. The UPDS leadership has “disowned” Terang. It said the act was that of an individual and the outfit was unaware of his involvement in any such illegal activity. Saloi said the police were probing the abduction case. “After we establish the involvement of Terang in the abduction case with irrefutable evidences, we will furnish a comprehensive report to our higher authorities.” He said Terang was arrested from Diphu in Karbi Anglong district during a joint operation by city police and their Karbi Anglong counterparts. Terang is alleged to have helped Ankit Agarwal, 26, and Naren Rautia, 26, in kidnapping their friends Md Nadim Khan, 16, and Pankaj Chakraborty, 17, both students of Class X, from Jalukbari on January 31. Ankit and Naren were also arrested during the February 5 operation and were brought to the city for interrogation the day after. However, Terang was in the custody of Karbi Anglong police till yesterday because a case under Arms Act was registered against him as a revolver and live ammunition were found on him. A police source, who is a member of the investigating team, said Terang was brought to the city from Karbi Anglong last night for further interrogation. Nadim and Pankaj were rescued from Chakma village in Karbi Anglong on February 9 on the basis of confessions made by the accused. The source said illegal activities such as abduction, arms supply and narcotics trade by some members of militant groups in ceasefire had become a major headache for the police. This is the second incident of abduction by members of militant outfits in ceasefire with Delhi in the state capital within a year. Some NDFB rebels had abducted teenagers Rishab and Siddhant Saraogi from Maligaon last year. “Another such instance was the involvement of some NDFB cadres in the October 30 serial bomb blasts,” the source said. The violation of ground rules by militant groups has assumed greater significance in the wake of Union home minister P. Chidambaram recently declaring zero tolerance against it.