Army launches major operation against ULFA

GUWAHATI: The army launched a major operation against insurgent group ULFA in Assam on Sunday, killing one militant in an encounter following the Centre's directive of resumption of operation against the outfit in the wake of killing of a tea garden manager and extortion demands.

Official sources said here that one hardcore ULFA militant Bitoban Barua was killed in the encounter with the army at Mamoroni village near Lakhipathar in Tinsukia district on Sunday.

The army and para military forces, along with the police, launched a "major offensive" in ULFA strongholds in the districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Jorhat, Baska, Nalbari and Barpeta, sources said.

Fierce gunbattles were on in Momoroni and nearby Pengeri area of upper Assam where ULFA's dreaded 28th battalion was active and believed to be involved in the murder of the tea garden manager near Digboi on Saturday.

The para military forces in Guwahati, who are in charge under the Unified Command structure formed to combat insurgency, launched a crackdown in various areas in search of the rebels.