From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI : Eight Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) militants were killed on Sunday in an encounter with security forces in West Karbi Anglong district of Assam bordering Nagaland. This was informed by a senior police officer. Earlier, the official had informed that 8 militants were killed in the encounter as the bodies of the other two militants had not been recovered till then. The official said a team of police officers and Assam Rifles personnel led by West Karbi Anglong Additional Superintendent of Police Prakash Sonowal launched a joint operation in the district on the basis of intelligence inputs.
The official said, eight members of the banned outfit were killed in an encounter between security forces and militants in Michibelung area. Initially the bodies of six militants were recovered and two other bodies were found later during a search operation in a remote area. It is suspected that the bodies belong to two top leaders of the organisation. Four AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, the police official said. He said the search operation has been going on in the district since last week after the killing of a priest in Daujifang area.
Detailed information on the encounter is awaited. On the other hand, Assam Drang district police have busted a criminal racket involved in gun making and other criminal activities. Police nabbed two members of the notorious racket during an operation on Saturday night. On the directions of Superintendent of Police Sushanta Biswa Sarma, a police team took action at the house of a Moin Ali in Bagarmari village.During the operation, the police managed to seize five country-made rifles, eight pairs of military camouflage and a pair of police uniforms.
Drang Deputy Superintendent of Police Mamani Hazarika said that 36-year-old Sahar Ali of Bandia village under Mangaldai police station and Harunul Rashid, 35, of Dhansiri Kash village have been arrested in this regard. However the main accused managed to escape from the house owner Moin Ali. Police have registered a case at Mangaldai police station and started further investigation.
