ULFA 'commander' killed in Meghalaya

Shillong, Feb 5 (UNI) An ULFA ''commander'' was killed during a joint operation of Meghalaya police and the Army in the bordering districts of Asom and Meghalaya.

ULFA leader Karno Rabha was killed yesterday in the 'Operation Rhino 2' at Rimdegri village in state's West Garo Hills district bordering Goalpara, Deputy Inspector General F D Sangma told UNI over phone from Tura here today.

Four of his associates, however, escaped, he added.

Security forces recovered a pistol, a grenade and several incriminating documents from the deceased, Mr Sangma said The DIG futher said the ULFA cadres were camping in the village following the ongoing combing operation against them in Asom.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at the entry points along Meghalaya's border to check militants from sneaking into the state ahead of the National Games in Asom.

''The operations are going on in full-swing and we will continue with the joint operation,'' Mr Sangma said.

The Union Home Ministry had also directed the BSF to keep an extra vigil along the Indo-Bangla border.

ULFA had been using the Garo Hills districts as their 'safe sanctuary' to escape from the dragnets of Army and as their 'transit route' to Bangladesh.

The West Garo and South Garo Hills shares borders with Asom and Bangladesh and are known as ''ULFA hotbed'', Mr Sangma said.

UNI