Army-ULFA encounter, women cadres escape

Itanagar, July 23 (UNI) An encounter between the Army and ULFA's women wing took place at Khowji village in Upper Lekang under Lohit district in Arunachal Pradesh.

However, there was no report of any casualty.

The gunwomen, however, escaped in spite of heavy firing, official sources said.

The army has intensified its operations against the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in Changlang and Lohit districts of Arunachal Pradesh bordering Asom.

Official sources said here the operations had been launched against the outfit since Friday at Mahadebpur under Lohit district and Bordumsa in Changlang district following reports of large number of cadres camping in these areas.

Additional Deputy Commissioner R K Sharma of Namsai told UNI that there were reports of firing between the outfit cadres and army personnel at Khowji village under Lohit yesterday, but no casualty had been reported from either side.

However, the army along with police had launched a massive combing operation against the outfit at Bangeri Reserve Forest under Tinsukia district of Asom bordering Arunachal Pradesh.

Meanwhile, unofficial sources informed that four army personnel, including a senior official of the 15 Maratha Regiment stationed at Sipani under Lohit, were killed in the fierce encounter that took place at Khawzi village yesterday.

However, army authorities remained tightlipped over the incident.

According to the sources, the encounter took place at 1130 hrs when a team of army personnel went to the village following reports of five Ulfa cadres taking shelter in a teachers' residence. The cadres sensing danger opened fire in which four army personnel were killed.

However, the ULFA cadres managed to escape, sources added.

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