Brigadier killed, bridge destroyed, as militants intensify activities

A brigadier was shot dead in Guwahati, a bridge was blown up in Goalpara district, while documents found with militants killed in an encounter suggested that the extremists are under orders to intensify their activities till August 15.

Brigadier Vehekino and his staff officer Subhash Chandra were shot dead by extremists who arrived on a motorcycle. The brigadier died on the spot while Chandra died on the way to the Guwahati Medical College hospital.

An official report said seven Bodo militants were killed, including a group commander Thebla Brahma, while another was injured in an encounter at Tarabari village in Darrang district on Thursday evening. Three United Liberation Front of Asom activists were also arrested in different parts of Assam on Thursday, the report said.

The army recovered some incriminating documents from the dead Bodo militants in which their leaders had directed them to intensify their activities till August 15, the report said.

Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta condemned the army officers's killings and said his government is considering the reintroduction of the anti-insurgency operation under a unified command in Guwahati and Jorhat districts. The operation was suspended in these areas recently.