Army launches operation against ULFA in Arunachal

Itanagar, July 24 (UNI) The Army has intensified its operation against the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom(ULFA) in Changlang and Lohit districts of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Asom.

Official sources today said the Army has launched its operation against the outfit at Mahadevpur circle under Lohit district and Bordumsa circle in Changlang district, following reports of large number of cadres camping in the area.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Namsai R K Sharma, quoting Army sources, told UNI over phone today that there were reports of fire exchange between the outfit cadres and Army personnel at Khawji village under Lohit district yesterday but no casualties were reported from either side.

However, the Army along with Police has launched a massive combing operation at Pangeri reserve forest, bordering Arunachal, under Tinsukia district of Asom, he added.

Meanwhile, unofficial sources informed that four Army personnel, including a senior officer of the 15th Maratha Regiment, stationed at Sitpani under Lohit district, died in the fierce encounter that took place at 1130 hrs in Khawji village yesterday when a team of Army personnel went to the village following reports of five ULFA cadres of the 28th battalion taking shelter in a teacher's residence. The cadres sensing danger fired and four Army personnel died in the fierce encounter that lasted for more than one hour.

Later, the ULFA cadres managed to escape.

However, Army authorities remained tight-lipped over the incident.

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