Protest over 'fake encounter' intensifies, CM orders probe

Guwahati, May 7 (UNI) Irate villagers continued to block the National Highway 37 at Doomdooma this morning protesting the killing of an 'ULFA cadre' by troops of the 6 JAK Rifles in Tinsukia yesterday, even as the Chief Minister ordered a probe into the incident.

Backed by a number of student and youth organisations, thousands of protesting villagers mustered strong at Ushamati shouting anti-army slogans and demanding a halt to the 'atrocities meted out to the common people in the name of anti-insurgency operations.' A protest meeting was also held at the place.

Efforts of the district administration to pacify the mob failed to yield any result.

Four districts of Arunachal Pradesh remained cut-off from Asom and traffic in the national highway 52 was also affected in the wake of the blockade.

Claiming that the person, who was shot dead by the army was an 'innocent father of three sons', the agitators had yesterday gheraod the Doomdooma police station for hours.

They said Moran was an employee at the Manipur Tea Estate of Doomdooma.

However, a spokesperson of the 6 JAK Rifles said the slain person, identified as Budheswar Moran alias Budhee alias Budhay, was a 'dreaded ULFA cadre'.

The army claimed to have recovered an IED, a detonator, a 9mm pistol and six live rounds from the 'militant'.

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