A dreaded Maoist-linked militant, accused in multiple railway bombings, was killed in a police encounter in Nadanguri, Kokrajhar district, early Friday, authorities confirmed. The slain militant has been identified as Apil Murmu, also known as Rohit Murmu, aged 40, originally from Jharkhand. According to Kokrajhar Police, Murmu was a prime suspect in a recent railway track blast in Kokrajhar and had a history of involvement in a similar attack in Jharkhand. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kokrajhar revealed that Murmu carried out a railway track explosion in Jharkhand last October before fleeing to Assam. In Assam, he adopted the alias Apil Murmu, claiming to be from Grahampur village under Kachugaon in Kokrajhar district.
Investigations indicate that Murmu had deep links across Jharkhand and Assam and was a former member of the NSLA (National Socialist Liberation Army). While the NSLA had laid down arms, Murmu refused to surrender and instead moved to Jharkhand, where he reportedly formed a breakaway faction, eventually rising to the rank of commander. Over the years, he established connections with Maoist groups and engaged in subversive activities in Jharkhand since 2015.
A coordinated operation between Jharkhand and Assam police led to the encounter. During the operation, authorities recovered a pistol, a grenade, as well as Murmu’s voter ID and Aadhaar card issued in Jharkhand. The SSP confirmed that search operations are ongoing in the Nadanguri area to track down any possible associates of the slain militant. “We are taking all steps to ensure the area is safe and to prevent any retaliatory actions by remaining insurgents,” he said.