Guwahati, Jan 13 (IANS): Eight hardcore Bodo militants, including a mastermind behind the massacre of adivasis in December, were Tuesday arrested in Assam's Chirang district along the international border with Bhutan, the army said.

A joint team of Assam Police and the army's Red Horns Division arrested the eight cadres of the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

An army statement issued here said those arrested include Enon Bargoyary alias Erkhang, a central committee member of the outfit, and 'platoon commander' Rinen Basumatary alias Majhi.

Enon was close to the outfit's chairman I.K. Songbijit, 'army chief' G. Bedai and 'deputy army chief' Batha, the statement said.

He was involved in recruiting and motivating the cadres, and sending them to various camps outside the country.

"Enon is believed to be the brain behind the brutal massacre of civilians on Dec 23 last year in Kokrajhar district," the statement said.

It said Basumatary was trained in Bhutan. He had surrendered in 2003 but rejoined the outfit two years back.

Two AK-series rifles, two pistols and a large quantity of ammunition were seized from them.

The army, paramilitary forces and police have been carrying out operations in inaccessible forested areas of Kokrajhar and Chirang districts in search of Bodo militants.

Security forces had arrested 12 leaders of the outfit Jan 11 from near the Bhutan border in Chirang district.