LOC16:06
13:06 GMT
NEW DELHI, Feb 16 (KUNA) -- As many as four rebels of the banned insurgent
group United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) were killed in a counter
insurgency operation by the security forces in Sibsagar district of Indias
Northeastern state of Assam Saturday.
The four rebels were killed in the encounter jointly carried out by Indian
Army and Assam Police personnel early today, news agency Indo Asian News
Service reported.
All the four rebels belonged to ULFAs "28th Battalion", the news agency
said, quoting an official of the Assam Police.
An AK-56 rifle with 16 rounds of ammunition, a pistol, four grenades, a
mobile phone were recovered from the slain insurgents.
ULFA is waging an insurgency since 1979 to create a "sovereign Assam "
carved out of India . It has little public support in Assam and most of its
top leadership is reported to be based in Bangladesh and operating from there.
ULFA is also alleged to maintain links with Pakistans Inter Services
Intelligence.
Leading US think tank Stratfor, few months back, in a report -- India:
ULFA Abandons Peace Talks -- had said that ULFA was keen to work with groups
like Bangladesh-based Harkt ul Jihadi Islami in India's Northeast and has
begun to outsource terror operations. (end)
dr.ajs
KUNA 161606 Feb 08NNNN