Panery (Assam) Aug 18: Five Ulfa militants were today killed in an encounter with security forces along the Indo-Bhutan border at Khopabasti village, 30 kms from here, in Assam's Darrang district, official sources said. Two groups of Ulfa militants had come down from Bhutan to collect ration and were camping in the village near Dimakuchi.
Receiving a tip-off, troops of 16 Punjab Regiment laid an ambush in the area and surrounded the village. The militants on being trapped, lobbed grenades in a bid to escape, the sources said.
Five militants were killed on the spot in the hour-long encounter this morning while the others managed to escape. The army suspects that some militants may have been injured but they fled from the scene.
Three of the militants, suspected to belong to the dreaded Saraighat Anchalik Parishad's enigma unit, have been identified as self-styled sergeant Bharan Chandra Nath alias fighter Gogoi, Arun Kakati and Dipen Das alias Dipu.
The security forces recovered huge quantities of arms, including one AK-56 rifle, three magazines of AK-56 rifles, 53 rounds of empty cases, a 7.62 revolver, shot guns, 19 rounds of 9 mm live ammunition, seven rounds of .22 live ammunition, a Japanese made radio-set and a dictaphone.
Ulfa-related documents, printed cadre hand-books, blank letter heads, three quintals of rice, utensils, stove, medicines, torches, batteries and combat uniforms were also recovered, the sources added. Bureau Report