Kokrajhar, Assam – A top-ranking Maoist commander, believed to be the mastermind behind last month’s railway track blast, was killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces in Assam’s Kokrajhar district in the early hours of this morning, police confirmed. The pre-dawn operation has dealt a significant blow to the nascent efforts of the banned CPI (Maoist) to establish a foothold in the state’s volatile Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
The Pre-Dawn Operation
The operation was launched based on specific intelligence about the movement of a high-value target in the dense forests near the Saraibil area of Kokrajhar. A joint team comprising Assam Police commandos and other security agencies swiftly cordoned off the suspected hideout.
“The team had specific information about the presence of a senior cadre,” a top police source told the media. “When challenged and asked to surrender, the militants opened fire on the security personnel. Our team retaliated, and in the ensuing Kokrajhar encounter, one individual was neutralised.”
Mastermind of Railway Blast Identified
The deceased has been identified as a senior area commander known by the alias ‘Commander Uday’. Police sources confirmed he was the primary suspect and planner behind the IED blast that targeted a railway track near Gossaigaon in late April.
The blast, which damaged a crucial portion of the track connecting the Northeast to the rest of India, was aimed at causing mass disruption. A major tragedy was averted due to an alert patrol team, but the incident had sparked a massive manhunt across Lower Assam.
“The neutralisation of Commander Uday is a huge success. He was instrumental in recruitment, extortion, and planning subversive activities in the region. His death cripples the local Maoist module,” the official added.
Weapons and Future Plans Recovered
An AK-series rifle, a significant cache of ammunition, grenades, and several incriminating documents were recovered from the encounter site. The documents reportedly contain details about the outfit’s plans to expand its network by forging alliances with disgruntled elements of other local militant groups active in the Northeast.
For years, intelligence agencies have warned of the CPI (Maoist)’s ‘Eastern Regional Bureau’ attempting to create a new guerrilla zone in the region. This operation highlights the persistent nature of the threat and the continuous efforts by security forces to counter it.
Zero-Tolerance Stance and Heightened Security
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma lauded the security forces for their successful and precise operation. His office released a statement saying, “Our government maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. We commend the bravery of the Assam Police and other security forces for neutralising a dangerous terrorist responsible for violence.”
Following the encounter, security has been beefed up across Kokrajhar and adjoining districts. Intensive search operations are underway to track down any other accomplices who may have escaped during the gunfight. Police are confident that the evidence recovered will lead to the dismantling of the entire network Commander Uday was trying to build in Assam.
