In a blow to the anti-insurgency operation in Assam, a Superintendent of Police and his personal security guard were killed in an encounter with suspected militants of Karbi People’s liberation Tigers (KPlT) in Karbi Anglong district late on Thursday night.
Acting on a tip-off that some militants were hiding in Rongthang forest, SP of Hamren police district Nityananda Goswami accompanied by 18 policemen launched an operation in the area, said a senior police official.
“The SP, his additional SP and other police personnel had split into three groups to launch the operation against the ultras with Goswami heading a team of five policemen,” he said, adding that the team led by Goswami came face to face with a group of about 25 ultras who opened fire on them.
“The police team retaliated and in the ensuing encounter, Goswami and his personal security guard Ratul Nunisa were killed on the spot” said the official. The bodies of Goswami and his PSO were recovered Friday morning, he said.
Meanwhile, the United People’s liberation Army (UPlA) claimed responsibility for the killings. However, police suspected involvement of Karbi People’s liberation Tigers (KPlT) in the incident. The police official said that UPlA does not have enough strength to launch such an attack. “The KPlT militants are behind the incident,” he said. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi reviewed the law and order situation and decided to launch combing operation in the district.
The State Government also decided to send Central forces and Army columns and requested the Central Government for five units of CRPF COBRA force to assist the operation in the district. The State Government also announced Rs 20 lakh as ex-gratia to the next kin of both the deceased.Senior police officials, including Director General of Police Khagen Sarma and Additional Director General of Police (law and Order) AP Raut have rushed to Hamren.
In January this year, the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militants ambushed a police party in Sonitpur district of Assam and killed Additional Superintendent of Police Guljar Hussain and injured five other police constables.