Assam police on the offensive
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=100826
Statesman News Service
GUWAHATI, Dec. 27. A police officer and an Ulfa militant were killed during an encounter at Silsang in Assams Morigaon district early today. Three other militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of policemen and CRPF personnel led by the O-C of Nellie police outpost, Mr Uttam Pradhan, cordoned off the militants hideout at Dorapani village at the foothills of Karbi hills at 2 a.m.
On being challenged, the four militants fired at the police team. In the ensuing encounter, Mr Pradhan and an Ulfa militant, identified as Nirmal Bodo, were killed, police said.
There has not been any let up in police and Army operations against Ulfa militants even as the outfit had shown interest in a negotiated settlement by constituting an 11-member group of negotiators called Peoples Consultative Group
(PCG). It has been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the ground for direct talks between the Centre and Ulfa leadership.
Five days ago, a joint team of Assam Police and CRPF busted a mobile camp of the Ulfa at Pushpabon village near the Assam-Nagaland border in Golaghat district.
Police claimed to have recovered a large quantity of explosives including two kilograms of RDX from the camp. Eight militants, who were operating from the camp, managed to escape following an encounter.
Security patrol ambushed
An Assam Rifles jawan was killed and three others were injured when insurgents attacked an Assam Rifles patrol at Thinungei area in Bishenpur district today, an official said, SNS adds from Imphal.
Armed insurgents fired at a patrol group at 8 a.m. The securitymen returned the fire and the encounter lasted for a few hours, the official
said.
Decision on AFSPA soon: Pranab
NEW DELHI, Dec. 27. The Centre would soon announce a decision on the demand for repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in force in the North-east, defence minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee said today. "The recommendations of the high-powered review committee have been discussed with the Union home minister and a decision will be taken by the government soon," Mr Mukherjee said. The government had set up the Review Committee following widespread agitation in Manipur calling for withdrawal of the Act, which seeks to insulate security forces operating in anti-insurgency operations against being hauled up in civil courts. However, the forces can be prosecuted for human rights abuses in Army courts. PTI
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