3 NDFB(S) Militants Enroute to Bhutan Killed in Assam Encounter

According to a police statement, the militants were carrying ration and medicines to the NDFB camp in Bhutan.

Two of the three NDFB militants, Ritu Basumatary (left) and Rahul Basumatary, who were shot down in an encounter on Sunday, 17 July 2016. (Photo Courtesy: Anjana Dutta)

In a series of joint operations, the 3 Rajput Army and Assam Police gunned down three top militants of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) in Kokrajhar district, Assam in the early hours of Sunday morning.

On specific intelligence inputs on movement of hardcore NDFB(S) terrorists, the Army challenged suspected individuals who were moving through dense jungles.

They have been identified as Rahul Basumatary, Ritu Basumatary, and Sudem Borgoyary, according to the official statement. The statement adds that two of the three were carrying ration and medicine to the militant camp in Bhutan.

The material seized from the NDFB(S) militants by the Indian security forces. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@ShivAroor)

Four pistols, ammunition, hand grenades and a broken AK-47 magazine were recovered from the slain militants, among other things.

After coming under “heavy non-discriminatory fire” the joint team retaliated with controlled fire and killed the three NDFB(S) militants, the officials said.

Officials claimed that the operation, which was carried out under torrential rains, in thick foliage and undergrowth of the Assam jungles, is a major setback to the NDFB(S), which has been active in the area.

(With inputs from PTI and Anjana Datta)