Sanjoy Ghose kidnappers killed in Assam

Security forces shot dead two people allegedly responsible for the kidnapping of activist Sanjoy Ghose of the Association of Voluntary Agencies for Rural Development (North-East),. Three more hardcore United Liberation Front of Assam militants were killed by the army in different incidents since Monday night in Assam. The army also recovered a plan to attack railway lines of Nagaon district.

Official sources said Siraj Bora alias Dilip Bora and Pradip Barua, two of Ghose's abductors, died in an encounter with the police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel on Majuli island on Monday night. At least five grenades and a nine mm pistol were recovered.

Pradip is believed to have tortured and killed Sanjay Ghose near Majuli on July 5, barely 24 hours after kidnapping him. It was Siraj who actually kidnapped Ghose, the source said.

The source said security forces surrounded the house, in which both of them were staying, after being tipped off by villagers. In the ensuing encounter both were killed. Siraj was the member of the ULFA's armed wing while Pradip was the organiser of the outfit in Majuli.

But army officials could not find Ghose's body, despite searching the riverine islands and rivulets around Majuli.

Meanwhile, the army dealt a big blow to the ULFA's 'Zebra group', killing its commander, Abhay Bardoloi and aide Latu Bora on Monday, unearthing a major sabotage bid in the Joralukhuri area of Nagaon district.

The official source said the Zebra group, which had been undergoing training in camps run by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland in Myanmar, was a crack team of ULFA volunteers from the Nalbari district which came under the direct supervision of ULFA deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah.

The Zebra group, with specialised training in the use of explosives, had arrived only four days ago with an elaborate plan to destroy railway tracks and national highway bridges. The plan, with maps, described where bombs could be fixed beneath tracks between Chaparmukh and Lanka sections. The authorities suspected the group may have placed at least two bombs and launched a massive search operation to recover them.

Meanwhile, Bhuban Hazarika, a hardcore ULFA militant who was nabbed by the army from Khongia in Jorhat district on August 23 last, died in a bomb explosion while still in army custody on Monday night. He reportedly died after leading a patrol party of the army to an ULFA hideout near the Assam-Nagaland border.

EARLIER REPORTS:
Activist Sanjoy Ghose dead, confirms ULFA
Probe sought into death of Sanjoy Ghose
Death in a time of freedom
Indrajit Gupta condoles Sanjoy Ghose's death