Assam: 3 jawans killed in IED blast in Tinsukia; encounter underway between army & suspected ULFA militants

Three jawans were martyred and several others injured in an ongoing encounter between the army and suspected United Liberated Front of Asom (ULFA) militants in Tinsukia district of Assam on Saturday. 

The soldiers were killed while another was injured in an IED blast in Assam's Digboi area, which took place as the soldiers were travelling in an Army vehicle. Another soldier was injured in the IED blast, a Defence spokesperson said. 

According to ANI, after the incident took place, the army launched a combing operation to nab the terrorists.

In a deadly ambush by suspected ULFA militants on army convoy at around 5.30 am, Multan Singh of 15 Kumaon regiment, aged 43, attained martyrdom. The incident took place inside a reserve forest near Digboi in Tinsukia district.  According to sources, the injured soldiers were airlifted and admitted to a hospital, where Singh succumbed to his injuries.

Meanwhile, the Army has cordoned off the jungle in Tinsukia’s Pengri and the operation launched is still going on.Tinsukia’s Pengri and the operation launched is still going on.

ULFA is a separatist outfit operating in Assam banned by the Government of India in 1990, citing it as a terrorist organisation. ULFA seeks to establish sovereign Assam with an armed struggle in the conflict. ULFA seeks to establish sovereign Assam with an armed struggle in the conflict. 

With inputs from PTI.