From Sudip Sharma Chowdhury
GUWAHATI : Assam Police on Thursday morning killed a top leader of the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) at Manikpur in Bongaigaon district. Outfit’s western Assam commander Dwipen Saud who was recently appointed to replace Drishti Rajkhowa was shot dead in the gunfight with the police at Besimari village. His gunman Padum Ray was nabbed alive with a weapon, police said. Director general of police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said ULFA western command was planning some high profile kidnappings with the help of some other forces.
It appears significant following the two separate abduction cases of QUIPPO and ONGC employees by the outfit recently. “We had intel that Ulfa Western Command was planning some high profile kidnapping in collaboration with other anti India forces which now appears tobe foiled. Today’s successful operation is due to high quality police intel input that worked out precisely for on ground action,” DGP Assam tweeted. “Last night we got an information about insurgents hiding in a particular house. Bongaigaon Police conducted the search operation at Besimari under Manikpur Police Station. The family members came out. At around 5 AM, someone fired from the inside and we retaliated for our safety,” said Bongaigaon superintendent of police (SP) Subodh Sonowal.
