Two killed, ten injured in Asom blast

Guwahati, Jan 20 (UNI) The ULFA carried out twin blasts in Tinsukia district of upper Asom today, killing two people and injuring 10, while security forces killed two top ULFA militant in separate incidents in the past 24 hours.

According to official sources, the twin explosions occurred at Chamber road, the main commercial hub of the busy Tinsukia district, and Diphu respectively.

At least two people were killed and 10 injured in the blast at Chamber road which took place at 1830 hrs. The injured were shifted to the Tinsukia Civil Hospital.

The blast at Diphu happened around the same time. No report of any casualty has been received so far.

A top ULFA militant was killed by the security forces along the Asom-Arunachal border, while another was gunned down on the outskirts of the Guwahati city. In the Gorchuk incident near here, after an hour-long encounter between the police and ULFA ultras, one extremist was shot dead, while another managed to flee.

The police recovered a few grenades, some letters and notes about the possible sites of bomb blasts during the National Games.

Army sources said a self-styled corporal Palashmoni Barua alias Bibhisan Chetia was killed by the troops of 7/11 Gorkha Regiment.

Two of his other associates managed to escape.

The sources said the Army's 'Operation Clear' has been intensified to flush out ULFA rebels from their camps in Tirap, Changlang and Lohit districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Dibru Saikhowa and Lakhipathar Reserve Forests in Asom along the border.

Troops have also fanned out to the forest villages of Nagajan, Mothola, Kakopathar, Dimokhula, Laila, Chiring Chuburi and Samuguri in Tinsukia and Toloi, Chepon and Tengakhat in Dibrugrah where house-to-house operations have been launched.

Meanwhile, the Centre has sent 20 more companies of paramilitary forces to the state for an all-out offensive against the insurgent group following their fresh threat to Hindi-speaking people.

These forces are meant for both the internal security duties and security of National Games to be held here next month.

UNI