Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday said that security forces have succeeded in stopping the NDFB rebels trying to escape to Bhutan and Burma after last week’s carnage of Adivasis.

Stating that NDFB rebels were trying to cross the border to escape the onslaught of counter-insurgency operations, Mr Gogoi said that Army has also sealed the international border with Bhutan and Burma.

“What I have been told is that NDFB rebels are hiding in forests close to Bhutan and Arunachal Paradesh and security forces are closing in on them,” said Mr Gogoi, clarifying that both the Centre and the state have decided to continue the military operations against Bodo militants.

Reacting to defence minister Mohan Parrikar’s claim that the state was late in requesting Army deployment in the wake of attacks on Adivasis, Mr Gogoi said the Army can act on its own in such operations and the state does not need to call for its services.