Militants attack SBI branch in Asom

Silchar, Nov 30 (UNI) Suspected tribal militants today swooped down on State Bank of India (SBI) branch at Kotamoni in Karimganj district and shot at the Bank guard injuring him seriously.

SBI branch manager Santosh Kumar Roy said a group of eight suspected militants, including a woman in camouflage attire, carrying AK series of rifles and pistols raided the Bank and snatched away the 303 gun from one of the two guards at the entrance.

However, when the guards prevented the raiders from entering, the suspected militants shot at one of the guards, injuring him critically.

However, the guards did not give away the fight and they successfully prevented the militants from looting the Bank. The manager of the branch escaped unhurt when the armed gang managed to enter his chamber and shot at him.

The manager took cover under his table to save himself from the militants, who failed to take away any cash or property.

After hearing the incident, Karimganj SP Pradeep Chandra Saloi along with a posse of police and CRPF arrived there and started a combing operation in the areas near Asom border with Mizoram and Tripura to nab the miscreants.

Police suspected that the miscreants belonged to Mizoram-based Bru militant outfit. They were involved in a number of kidnapping and extortion activities in this part of the state for sometime.

The injured had been hospitalisd.

UNI XC SJC/src1917