Five killed in clash; Ulfa activist shot dead;Five NHAI abducted

Guwahati, Mar 13 (UNI) At least five people were killed and six critically injured in a clash between the National Democratic Front of Bodoland(NDFB) militants and ruling Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) supporters, while the Army shot dead a ULFA militant at Tengakhat in Dibrugarh district of Assam today.

Official sources here said the tribal Black Widow ultras also abducted five people, including three National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials, near Haflong in North Cachar Hill district of the state last evening.

Superintendent of Police Pradeep Pujari said police resorted to fire on the supporters of the NDFB when they tried to attack the supporters of the ruling BPF.

The incident occurred at Bengtol in the district at about 1100 hrs when about 200 NDFB militants attacked the BPF cadres following dispute over an NDFB transit camp.

Both factions had been fighting since long to have control over the Bodoland areas.

The BPF having control over the cash-rich Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) was slowly trying to drive out the rival moderate faction as well as the radical NDFB militants groups.

The NDFB was under ceasefire agreement with the Centre for the past four years.

Sources informed that personnel from 11 Guard Regiment of the Army gunned down an ULFA sergeant major, Rupah Moran alias Raju Moran, in an encounter, which took place at Hatibondha Borbam village under Tengkahat police station in Dibrugarh district.

The Army recovered a 9 mm pistol and one improvised explosive device (IED) from the slain militant.

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