MULTA rebels held
Dhubri: Two Islamic fundamentalist militants were arrested from western Assam’s Dhubri district on Thursday night.
An army team apprehended cadres of the Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) from Rangamati, in Bilasipara, in Dhubri district.
The rebels have been identified as Shahidul Haque and Anwar Hussain.
One country-made pistol, 3 rounds of ammunition, two mobile handsets, one motorbike and Rs 30,800 in cash were recovered from them. (UNI)
Sandalwod smugglers remanded
Siliguri: Two traffickers, who were smuggling a huge quantity of red sandalwood from Lucipokri under Phansidawa Police Station here, were remanded in 14-day judicial custody on Thursday.
A truck, loaded with 9.5 tonnes of sandalwood, was also seized from their possession, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence sources said.
It was on its way to Imphal via Siliguri corridor from Gurgaon near Delhi.
They (smugglers) were produced before the Siliguri Additional Judicial Magistrate’s court and remanded in 14-day judicial custody, the sources said.
The smugglers have been identified as Suresh Singh (20) and Manish Gupta (35). (UNI)
Rhino carcass found
Tezpur (Assam): The carcass of an adult rhino was found floating on the river Brahmaputra near Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district, Deputy Commissioner Tapan Chandra Sarma said here today. The carcass of the male rhino came from the flood affected Kaziranga National Park (KNP) in Golaghat district across the river and it was found last night by the local people at Singri, Sarma told PTI. Fearing that poachers might steal the rhino’s horn weighing about one kg, the people cut it off and handed it to the forest department on Thursday, he said. The incident occurred hours after another rhino, a female one, died after being electrocuted at Haldibari under Kohora central range of the KNP. The carcass of yet another adult rhino was recovered at Bhaonisapori area of the Park’s Bagori range on Tuesday with its horn cut and removed. The animal was suspected to have been killed by poachers on July 11. Rhino horns are highly valued in the international grey market for their reported aphrodisiac value. (PTI)
Exchange of fire with militants in Manipur
Imphal: Heavy exchange of fire between security personnel and insurgents was reported from Manipur’s Ukhrul district bordering Myanmar, officials said on Thursay.
The 12th Assam Rifles, posted at Nambisa village, launched a manhunt in the adjacent villages following information that insurgents of banned People’s Liberation Army had entered the state from across the border yesterday.
During operation, both sides exchanged fire, but there was no casualty, they said. (PTI)