GUWAHATI: A self-styled area commander of the banned Untied Liberation Front of Assam (Independent) or the ULFA-I was killed following a gun battle with security forces at West Nalbari area under Udalguri district of Assam on Friday.
Security sources informed that acting on a tip-off about presence of a group of five ULFA-I militants, troops of the Red Horns Division of India Army and police cordoned off a house belonging to one Kosheswar Deka at Khoirabari village in the area under Udalguri district.
The inmates of the house were held captive by the militants and one militant, identified as Rajen Deka, was killed in the encounter that followed adding that Deka was the leader of the militant group.
The other four militants fled and the security forces rescued the members of the family who were held captive as shields by the militants
Deka had joined the militant group about 15 years ago and he was a self-styled area commander of the outfit for Udalguri and Darrang districts. Police had earlier declared award of Rs 5 lakh for concrete information on whereabouts of Deka.
An AK-47 rifle, a foreign-made pistol, large quantity of ammunition, mobile phones and currency were found near the militant’s body, the security source informed.
