Seven CRPF personnel killed in encounter with Dimasa militants
Haflong, Nov 02 (UNI) NSCN-backed Dimasa militants today killed seven CRPF personnel at North Cachar Hills district even as it was gearing up for the District Council Elections, scheduled later this month.
Police said the suspected militants, belonging to the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel Garlosa) group or Black Widow, ambushed a CRPF convoy, killing seven of the personnel on the spot in interior North Cachar Hill district.
Police at Haflong, the headquarters of the hill district, informed that the militants attacked a three-vehicle convoy, escorting the commanding officer of the CRPF's 50th Battalion, near Langting under Umrangshu police station.
The militants, hiding in the forests, hurled grenades and fired indiscriminately at the convoy.
Two vehicles of the convoy, including the one in which the commanding officer was travelling, remained unscathed, while the third vehicle was targetted.
All the seven security personnel, travelling in the vehicle, died on the spot.
The convoy was proceeding from Haflong to a CRPF camp in a remote area under Umrangshu police station of the district, about 75 km from the district headquarters, Superintendent of Police Deepak Kedia, who rushed to the spot immediately, said.
The militants later seized the arms and ammunition of the slain CRPF men and fled.
The CRPF commandant and those in the other vehicles escaped unhurt.
The attack had cast a shadow over the election process, which had started taking momentum after being postponed for five months following security threat.
UNI