AGARTALA, May 7(TIWN):The newly formed Bru National Army stands neutralized with the apprehension of top leadership during the wee hours of May 4 from village Kholakhal in Cachar dist of South Assam.

Based on specific input, a column of 15 battalion of Assam Rifles (AR) in 21 Sector of AR under IGAR (East), with sniffer dogs launched swift operation, named ‘Op Sickle’.The operation led to the apprehension of the self-styled commander-in-chief Oranjay alias Lal Thazuala and three other insurgents including the general secretary of the outfit.

The cordon and search operation (CASO) was launched in a remote village of Kulichara forest on Sunday night.The audaciousness and stealth of the operation startled the underground militants, providing them no opportunity to escape.

The UGs despite being armed with sophisticated weapons were unable to react or offer a firefight due to sheer speed and timing of the operation.On thorough search of the area, large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered which included included four AK-47 rifles, six AK magazines, 122 rounds of AK-47, two -12 bore double barrel guns, three- 12 bore single barrel guns, one 9 mm pistol, four 9 mm ball rounds, one BNA accounting & extortion diary, four mobile phones and other war like stores.

Apart from the Chief of the outfit Oranjoy alias Lal Thazuala (North Tripura), the others were identified as Rajesh Chorkhi, the Gen Secretary (Mizoram), Luarjoy Reang (Mizoram) and Bailoram Riyang (Kholakhal, Assam).

All of them are now with Assam Police for preliminary investigation.With the apprehension of top leadership of BNA, the group can be considered to be effectively neutralized and will bring an end to the rampant extortion carried out by BNA in the Bru Internally Displaced People camps in Tripura.