Two ULFA men killed in late night encounter

Guwahati, Aug 1 (UNI) Two ULFA militants were killed in a late night encounter in Nalbari district of Asom yesterday, taking the total number of ULFA men killed yesterday to five, including two in the same district and one in Dhemaji.

Police informed today that the two uktras were killed in an encounter with the Army in Sonkuriha village of the district at about 2230 hours.One of the dead militants had been identified as Jyotirmoy Goswami alias Kaushik Sharma. The other, yet to be identified, is suspected to be a top ULFA leader of lower Asom.

Earlier in the day, two more ULFA cadres were killed in Arora village of Nalbari district. The slain rebels were masterminds behind the recent Guwahati bombings, which had claimed seven lives.

In a separate incident yesterday, another ULFA man was killed in a village under Gogamukh police station of Dhemaji district.

The ULFA-nominated People's Consultative Group (PCG), acting as the negotiator between the Centre and the proscribed outfit, today condemned the killing of the ULFA cadres.The PCG reiterated that Army operations had to be stopped if a conducive atmosphere for direct talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom was to be created.

UNI SG-MT PL KLC1800