India Seeks Support of Bhutan in Fight Against Militants in Assam State

NEW DELHI, December 26 (Sputnik) — India seeks support of Bhutan in its fight against the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militants in Assam, the country's northeast, spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

NDFB is a separatist organization that seeks sovereignty for Bodo people in Assam. It was designated by the Indian government as terrorist.

"[India's] Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has talked to Bhutanese leadership at the highest level to seek their support. We are also working on having contacts with other friendly countries who could possibly help us," Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said during a press briefing.

In 2003 Bhutan also helped India to fight another separatist group from Assam designated by India as terrorist – the United Liberation Front of Asom.

Earlier on Friday, the Indian government gave full authority to the country's army to intensify operations against NDFB militants. The decision came after the attack of NDFB extremists on civilians on Tuesday that took lives of 81 people. Militants randomly entered homes and killed villagers not belonging to the ethnic Bodo people in Assam's Soniptur and Kokrajhar districts.