ULFA's district 'office' busted; important documents recovered

Guwahati, Apr 25 (UNI) The Sivsagar district 'office' of ULFA's dreaded 28th battalion along the inter-state border with Arunachal Pradesh was busted in a joint raid by Sivsagar police and 66 Field Regiment late last night.

A highly placed security source informed today that the busted office of the outfit was located near Haluwa village in Tilli reserve forest under Borhat police station, about 97 km from Sivsagar towan, along Arunachal Pradesh border.

As the security force team ambushed the hideout, a fierce gun battle took place and more than 50 rounds of firing were exchanged.

However, the seven militants, including three female cadres, who were in the camp, managed to escape.

A combing operation had been launched to nab the militants, the source said.

A large number of incriminating documents relating to the administrative set-up of the ULFA, the outfit's 'call sign' catalogue, 'enquiry reports' and food items were recovered from the busted camp, the source added.

The 28th battalion is the primary strike force of the ULFA and is active in Upper Asom.

The busting of its Sivsagar district office would prove to be a major set back for the outfit as all movements of the militants in this Upper Asom district was controlled from this camp.

UNI