Three soldiers killed in Assam militant ambush, MHA monitoring situation

"Spoke to Assam CM Sonowal who apprised me of the situation in the wake of blast in Tinsukia. The MHA is closely monitoring the situation," Rajnath said.

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New Delhi/Guwahati: At least three soldiers were killed when militants fired at an army convoy in Assam's Tinsukia district early on Saturday morning.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal after the militant attack at Pengeri around 5.30 a.m. and said his ministry was closely monitoring the situation.

"Spoke to Assam CM (Chief Minister Sarbananda) Sonowal who apprised me of the situation in the wake of blast in Tinsukia. The MHA is closely monitoring the situation," he said in a tweet.

Defence spokesman Lt. Col. Suneet Newton earlier said the militants first triggered an improvised explosive device blast and then fired indiscriminately attacked the convoy.

"The militants used AK-47, rocket-propelled grenades and other sophisticated firearms," the spokesperson added.

"The injured soldiers were rushed to a local hospital, but three of them succumbed to their injuries later," Newton said.

Assam Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay told IANS: "Our men are on the spot. I will go there from Dibrugarh. We can`t say anything about the attack at present. The investigation is on."

Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) and an anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) were behind the attack.

On Wednesday, suspected militants had indulged in firing at Pengeri, killing one person and injuring two others.