GUWAHATI: Death of three suspected ULFA militants in Namsai along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border on Sunday night in an encounter with the security forces has led to protests by people of the three slain youths, claiming that the deceased had no links with the ULFA.
Families of the deceased have refused to take the bodies, which have been lying in Tinsukia district’s Makum police station after post-mortem yesterday.
The youths–Dhiraj Duarah, Shiva Kumar Moran and Janak Moran–were gunned down by the army when the trio had reportedly fired at the security personnel and tried to flee on their motorbike in Namsai on Sunday night.
Residents of Mutapung and Barekuri villages, along with members of local organisations, have claimed that the youths had no association with any militant outfit.
The hardliner ULFA faction, too, had yesterday said the youths were not its members and alleged that they were killed in a fake encounter.
Local people continued to block NH 37 and 38 near Makum for the second day on Tuesday, with indications rife that the protests could turn violent.
The people have been demanding a judicial inquiry into the matter and immediate punishment for the army personnel involved in this alleged fake encounter. (UNI)
