GUWAHATI, June 6 � In a major setback to Assam Police, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Hamren police district and his personal security officer were killed in a counter-insurgency operation against Karbi People�s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) in Karbi Anglong late last night.
Top intelligence sources, meanwhile, have refuted the claims of UPLA to be behind the incident, stating that �preliminary investigation into the incident has indicated KPLT�s involvement and that there was specific inputs about their movement�.
Sources, however, confided that there were also inputs about movement of UPLA cadres in the area as well.
Nitya Nanda Goswami, the SP, led the operation against suspected KPLT militants along with 17 other police officials, including the Additional SP of the district. Ratul Nunisa, the personal security officer of Goswami, also died in the operation.
Goswami, it has been informed, had received �specific� intelligence inputs on the movement of KPLT militants in the Mokoilung area along the Assam-Meghalaya border following which he decided to launch the operation.
In the exchange of gunshots that ensued, Goswami and his personal security officer received bullet injuries, leading to their death. It is still not known whether there was any casualty from the KPLT side during the exchange of fire. Bodies of the SP and his security officer were recovered this morning.
Top intelligence sources of Assam Police, while talking to The Assam Tribune, however, ruled out the possibility of the team being mislead by the informer.
This is the second instance this year when a senior police official has been killed by militants. Early this year, Gulzar Hussain, an Assam Police official of the rank of Additional SP, died in an operation against the NDFB (Songbijit) militants in Sonitpur district.
KPLT is a breakaway faction of the KNLNF, which is currently engaged in peace parleys with the government.
The SP, born and brought up in Tezpur, had been living in Guwahati�s Beltola area whereas his PSO Ratul Nunisa is a resident of Karbi Anglong district.
The body of Goswami is being brought to Guwahati and his wife and son have already arrived from New Delhi this afternoon.
A team of top Assam Police and Army has, meanwhile, rushed to the spot.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, while condoling the death of the SP and his security officer, also ordered operation to nab the culprits.
The State government has already announced an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the next of kin of both the police officials. Director General of Police Khagen Sarma visited Hamren and took stock of the situation and to take coordinated action against the extremists.
Meanwhile, the State government has appointed Debojit Deori, APS, Commandant of APTC, Dergaon as new Superintendent of Police, Hamren police district.
