ULFA "commander" shot dead in an encounter in Asom

Guwahati, May 5 (UNI) A self-styled ULFA commander was killed in an encounter with J&K Rifles and Karbi Anglong police at Sunpura village under Howraghat police station late last night.

Police here today said acting on a tip-off, the joint team conducted a search operation in the area. On spotting a group of two-three persons moving in a suspicious manner, the security personnel challenged them to stop.

However, the group opened fired at the security team, forcing the latter to retaliate.

The encounter continued for about 15 minutes, in which one militant was killed, police added.

The others, however, managed to flee in the cover of darkness.

One 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, six rounds of 9 mm ammunition and one magazine of AK-47 rifle were recovered from the area, police said.

The slain militant, Rajiv Kalita alias Bipul Choudhury alias Biplav Choudhury, a 'lieutenant' in the 27th battalion of ULFA, was the mastermind behind the bomb blast during the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council election on January six last, in which seven polling staff, including three policemen, were killed.

The ULFA had carried out the blasts in close cooperation with the outlawed Karbi Longri Nationalist Liberation Front (KLNLF).

Last night's encounter was in succession to a number of anti-insurgency operations in Karbi Anglong district. The heavy security deployment across Upper Asom had compelled the ULFA cadres to shift base to this hills district, from where they could proceed to Myanmar, through Nagaland.

Police, however, claimed that the militants had no respite even in the hilly terrain and the intensified operation had led to major success.

The 'second lieutenant' of the 27th battalion of the ULFA, Biplav Changmai, was killed in an encounter with police on February seven.

A camp of the same battalion, operating in Karbi Anglong, was busted on March six and two other camps on April 21 in joint operations by police, Army and the CRPF.

Six hardcore cadres were also arrested during one of the raids on April 21.

UNI