By KUNA
New Delhi : As many as two insurgents, including a “self-styled corporal” of outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have been killed and their hideout busted by security forces in Tinsukia district in Indias Northeastern state of Assam.
The encounter took place late last night at Dibru-Saikhowa reserve forest in Tinkusia district, news agency Press Trust of India reported Saturday.
One of the slain insurgents was identified as “corporal” Dharjya Gogoi of ULFA, the news agency said, quoting an Assam police official.
A.32 pistol with two rounds of ammunition, a revolver with four rounds of ammunition, and food items and stationery were recovered from the ULFA hideout in the reserve forest.
ULFA is waging an insurgency since 1979 to create a “sovereign Assam ” carved out of India . It has little public support in Assam and most of its top leadership is reported to be based in Bangladesh and operating from there. ULFA is also alleged to maintain links with Pakistans Inter Services Intelligence.
Leading US think tank Stratfor, few months back, in a report — India: ULFA Abandons Peace Talks — had said that ULFA was keen to work with groups like Bangladesh-based Harkt ul Jihadi Islami in India’s Northeast and has begun to outsource terror operations.