Assam Rifles vehicle escorting tourists attacked, 2 jawans killed

Militants on Sunday ambushed an Assam Rifles vehicle, killing two security personnel and injuring three others, while two of the ultras were also killed in the ensuing encounter in Tinsukia district of Assam on Sunday, days ahead of the Republic Day.

A defence spokesman said that militants threw several grenades at an Assam Rifles vehicle at Jagun 12th Mile Barabasti on NH-53 killing two security personnel on the spot and injuring three others.

The security personnel retaliated and two militants were killed in the operation which is still underway in the area, the defence spokesman said, adding that the area borders the north eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Following the encounter, the nearby Indo-Myanmar border has been sealed and helicopters have been pressed into service to spot militants hiding in the nearby thick jungles.

The entire area has been cordoned off and combing operations stepped up in the area, the spokesman said, adding tourists returning from the three-day Pangsau Pass festival, which concluded on Sunday, were stranded along the highway.

The Pangsau Festival is held along the Indo-Myanmar border in the area and the historic Stillwell Road which was a major theatre of the Second World War.

Banned ULFA(I) in a statement claimed that it had carried out the attack along with four other organisations and had killed three security personnel.