Nagaon, June 2 : The United Peoples Democratic Solidarity UPDS), which is under a ceasefire with the government, today claimed that two cadres were killed and three others taken away by security forces after a raid on one of its camps.
Police, however, said they recovered the body of only one militant. His identity and the group to which he belonged was yet to be ascertained.
District administration sources said based on a tip-off, a joint team of the army and police raided a camp of the militants in the Upper Deupani area under Shantipur police station around 3.30am today. The troops retaliated after the militants opened fire.
A cadre’s body was later recovered from the camp.
The team also recovered three weapons, including two AK series rifles and a G-3 rifle, a 40mm grenade launcher and 72 live rounds of ammunition.
The UPDS said the attack was on one of their notified camps where there were 35 cadres, including 10 women. Not one but two of the outfit’s cadres were killed, the Karbi outfit claimed.
“The two killed include Bhengkur Engti and P.T. Weljhon Terang. The three cadres taken away from the camp are Ningkhai Terang, Angtong Ranghang and Swahid Timung,” said UPDS publicity secretary Tong-Eh-Nongloda.
“Today’s incident was a pre-planned attack by the army. We will not tolerate such incidents, as we are sincerely adhering to the ceasefire ground rules. If the situation arises, we would be compelled to do anything,” said the outfit’s defence secretary, Lengbard Engleng.
Karbi Anglong superintendent of police, K.K. Sarma, however, said the slain cadre was yet to be identified.
“We are yet to verify whether the slain cadre belonged to the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front or to UPDS,” he said.
Sarma also asserted that no one was taken away from the camp.
“The incident took place inside a deep jungle. Some arms and ammunition were recovered from the camp and we later handed them over to the Bokajan police,” said an army source.
