Three militants killed in Assam gunfights
By IANSWednesday, May 19, 2010
GUWAHATI - At least three tribal militants were killed Wednesday in two separate gunfights with security forces in Assam, police said.
A police spokesperson said the first gunfight took place with a group of militants belonging to the Karbi Liberation Tiger Force (KLTF) at Bokoliaghat village in Karbi Anglong district, about 290 km east of Assam’s main city of Guwahati.
“Based on specific information, a joint team of police and paramilitary troopers raided a KLTF hideout and soon there was a fierce gunfight,” a senior police officer said.
The gun battle lasted for about 30 minutes in which two militants were killed.
“We believe at least two more managed to escape,” the officer said.
A large haul of explosives and weapons were seized from the dead rebels.
The KLTF is a newly floated rag-tag group in the eastern Karbi Anglong district, believed to comprise some cadres of the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF) that entered into a ceasefire with New Delhi last year.
The KLTF is fighting for an independent homeland for the Karbi tribe in eastern Assam.
In another gun battle, security forces killed a militant of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in the western Udalguri district.
“Army soldiers challenged a group of NDFB rebels taking shelter in a forest area and in the ensuing gunfight one rebel was killed, while at least two of them slipped away,” the official said.
