TEZPUR, April 30 � Three hardcore NDFB(S) militants were killed in a fierce encounter with security personnel at Naojan in Tinkhuti area under Gingia PS in Sonitpur district this morning, police informed.
According to the police, in a joint operation, personnel of the Assam Police and CRPF, following specific inputs, intercepted five NDFB(S) ultras at Naojan, along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border this morning.
The militants opened fire on the security personnel, forcing the latter to fire in retaliation. In the fierce encounter, three cadres were killed and the other two managed to escape under the forest cover, the police added.
The cadres killed in the encounter have been identified as Rajai Mushahary, Custom Boro and Adlish Basumatary. Three pistols, 11 rounds of live ammunition and a Chinese hand grenade were recovered from the slain militants, the police added.
The police also informed that the slain militants were involved in the killing of Lalit Boro, a BJP worker at Tinkhuti on April 7 last.
Meanwhile, three youths, namely Krishna Mahato (22), Manoj Giri (22) and Kanu Gupta (23) of Sirajuli area under Dhekiajuli PS in Sonitpur district were arrested by Misamari police on Tuesday on charges of extortion demands in the name of the NDFB(S).
According to the police, the three accused had been demanding Rs 10 lakh from the assistant manager of Belsiri Tea Estate in Misamari area over telephone for the last many days. They had also threatened the assistant manager with his life if he failed to comply with their demand.
Based on a complaint by the assistant manager and some other inputs, police arrested Krishna Mahato on last evening. Based on his confessional statement, the two other youths were arrested today. They were later sent to jail, the police said.
