TEZPUR, Jan 28 � Additional Superintendent of Police (Security) of Sonitpur district, Gulzar Hussain and B Enla, a member of the NDFB faction on ceasefire, were killed and five policemen were seriously injured in an attack by militants belonging to the Songbijit faction of the NDFB this morning around�7.30 am.
The attack on the police team took place at Mawriapur near Lawdangi centre of Batasipur area under Dhekiajuli PS in Sonitpur district.
According to information available here, the ASP who was hit by bullets on his head and leg, was rushed to the Army�s 151 Base hospital, but he was declared dead at the hospital. The police personnel who sustained serious injuries are Umakanta Bailung (constable), Rubul Bora (PSO), Dhiraj Bharali (Lance Naik), Janak Basumatary (constable) and Pinku Nath (Homeguard). They were admitted to the Kanaklata Civil Hospital. However, of the five injured police personnel, Rubul Bora, Janak Basumatary, and Pinku Nath are said to be in a critical condition and they have been referred to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.
Police sources said an operation team comprising commandos of the Assam Police, assisted by 2 Dogra Regiment led by ASP (Security) Gulzar Hussain, was coming down from the Assam-Arunachal border area after apprehending a suspected NDFB(S) militant Karambir Basumatary, who was taking shelter at the residence of one Imla Mochahari of Hamshadpur village. When they reached Mawriapur near Lawdangi centre of Batachipur, it was ambushed killing Hussain and the ceasefire NDFB cadre (who was taken by the operation team as an informer).
�The operation was launched in the remote area this morning on receiving information about the NDFB's presence there,� police sources said. The police said the insurgents ambushed from a roadside bamboo grove. As the area was a village, security forces had to maintain restraint to avoid civilian casualities. But later it was found that the village was evacuated by the insurgents, police added.
The Sonitpur district administration and Sonitpur police paid homage to slain ASP, Gulzar Hussain at police reserve parade ground Tezpur in presence of DC Sonitpur, Lalit Gogoi and the SP Sonitpur Sanjukta Parasar and father of late Gulzar Hussain, �Sahuddin Hafij.
Top officials from the district administration and SN Singh IGP law and order, Assam Police have rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. However, a massive operation has already been launched in the area to nab the militants.
On the otherhand, following the incident a tense situation prevailed in Dhekiajuli as some infuriated people vandalized a camp of surrendered NDFB near ASTC bus stand at Dhekiajuli town. One surrendered NDFB cadre Arun Basumatary was seriously injured. The irate people also vandalized the office of the Dhekiajuli Boro Sahitya Sabha. Moreover, some Boro youths were also attacked in the town. The administration has clamped curfew in the Dhekiajuli town from 6 pm today till�6 am tomorrow. On the otherhand a protest rally was taken out in Tezpur in protest against the NDFB's killing.
