Encounter with ULFA (I) cadres in Tinsukia, Assam, 3rd since July this year

The encounter broke out between 7 ULFA (Independent) cadres and security forces early this morning

An encounter took place between suspected ULFA (I) cadres and security forces at Pengeri in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district at around 4 am today. An over ground worker (OWG) has been injured.

Today’s encounter comes within hours of Assam Rifles nabbing two PLA insurgents in Manipur who had confessed about their plans to ‘detonate explosives in official installations and target security forces ahead of the Republic Day’.

“On night 20/21 December, a joint search operation was launched based on specific intelligence which resulted in apprehension of 4 OGWs (over ground workers who help militants logistic support, cash). Based on intelligence given by them, another search operation was launched in wee hours today in Upper Dihing Reserve Forest (approx 6 km South West of Pengri), Upper Assam. One of Assam Police search party came under ineffective fire of few rounds of small arms weapon. Swift retaliation resulted in terrorists trying to break contact. Operations under progress,” police sources said.

“Reinforcements have been called in as a huge team of police, CRPF and army has launched a massive combing operation in the Dhekiajan Pengeri area in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district following the encounter between a group of 7 ULFA (Independent) cadres and security forces early this morning”, Tinsukia SP Gaurav Abhijit said.
The SP said that 4 over ground workers including the injured Amit Mukhiya (29 yrs) has been arrested for providing food and shelter to the militants.

DIG (NER) Jitmol Doley is leading and overseeing the search operation at the encounter site. The police had information of some ULFA cadres taking shelter in the area and even building up a temporary camp in the adjacent Upper Dehing reserve forest, the SP said. The injured OGW is out of danger and is recuperating at the Tinsukia Civil Hospital.

Just last month, on November 15, ULFA-I rebels had attacked an Army vehicle on the Digboi-Pengeri road in Tinsukia. The rebels had lobbed a grenade at a bullet-proof armoured Army vehicle, which was part of a convoy that was passing through the road enveloped by deep forests on both sides. The site of the incident was around 50km from Tinsukia town and 15km from Digboi town.
This triggered a fierce gun battle between the insurgents and the Army personnel. No casualties or injuries were reported on the Army side.

Earlier in July this year, one ULFA (I) terrorist Gyan Asom was killed in a fierce encounter between the militants and security forces in Tinsukia.

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