Cop, militant killed in Assam gunbattle

A policeman and a hardcore ULFA(I) militant were killed in an encounter in Assam’s Goalpara district on Tuesday, police said. They added the incident took place hours after a powerful blast at Dudhnoi, suspected to have been triggered by the outfit, claimed three lives.

SP Nitul Gogoi said the police had stepped up vigil and received a tip-off about a group of ULFA (Independent) militants moving in Krishnai area of Goalpara district. Officer in charge of Krishnai police station, along with commandos, surrounded a house at Jira where the ultras were holed up and cordoned off the area, Gogoi said. A police commando died when the insurgents opened fire, while one of the militants was also killed, he said. The remote control, which was suspected to have been used in Dudhnoi blast, was recovered from the slain ultra.

Three pistols, an AK rifle magazine, a grenade and several extortion notices were also recovered from the slain rebel. The SP said Monday’s bomb blast that killed three persons and injured 20 others was not connected with the Assembly elections.