Two ULFA militants shot dead, crossfire kills boy

GUWAHATI - Two United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants, including a top bomber of the outfit, were killed in a shootout with soldiers in Assam, but the crossfire also claimed the life of a boy, police Wednesday said.

A police spokesperson said ULFA bomber Basa Singh was killed early Wednesday after an overnight shootout that also left two others dead. The encounter began around 5 p.m. Tuesday and ended around 6 a.m. Wednesday near Kalaigaon in Udalguri district, about 90 km north of here.

“One ULFA militant was killed in the encounter, while a school boy lost his life in the crossfire. A soldier was also wounded in the attack late Tuesday,” a senior police official said.

The encounter continued till early Wednesday.

“We realised there was one more ULFA militant inside a house and after the first round of firing, our suspicion came right and we later managed to eliminate Basa Singh early this morning after a fierce gunfight,” the official said.

“In all, there were three deaths - two ULFA militants and the school boy - and an army soldier was injured.”

Singh is said to have been involved in at least 20 deadly explosions in the past three years in different parts of Assam.

“Basa Singh’s death will surely impact on the ULFA’s overall morale as he was one of their main bombers and a dedicated leader,” the official said.