Assam on red alert following ULFA threat

Guwahati, Feb 16 : A red alert has been sounded across Assam following intelligence reports that ULFA militants might target leaders of a particular political party and Hindi-speaking people.

The banned outfit's plan came to light after the arrest of a number of ULFA cadres in the State.

Police stations in the state have been asked to maintain a vigil in vulnerable areas.

Meanwhile, four ULFA militants were killed in a joint operation by the army and police in Assam's Sibsagar District early this morning.

The dead ultras were holed in a house at Naphuk Naharani village. Security forces cordoned off the area at around 2.30 am and engaged the militants in an encounter.

The four reportedly belonged to the ULFA's '28th Battalion'.

Two of the militants were identified as Ranju Hazarika and Pratik Gogoi, sources said, adding the remaining two hailed from the Majuli River Island.

An AK 56 rifle with 16 rounds of ammunition, a pistol, four grenades, a mobile phone and expenditure slips of the outfit in several envelopes addressed to one 'Sergeant Major' Ram Singh were recovered from the site of the encounter.

ANI