The Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Sonitpur district and a police informer were killed, and five policemen seriously injured when militants of the anti-talk NDFB-Songbijit faction ambushed a patrol at Dhekiajuli area on Tuesday.
The National Democratic Front of Bodoland-S militants ambushed the police patrol led by Gulzar Hussain at Thalola centre — Laodangi of Batasipur area under Dhekiajuli police station, Superitendent of Police Sanjukta Parasar said.
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Curfew had been imposed in Dhekiajuli area from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. following massive protests against the NDFB-S and killing of the ASP.
“It was around 8 a.m. when three militants hiding near a school fired at the team killing two persons, including ASP Hussain,” Ms. Parasar told PTI.
The ASP sitting in the front seat of his vehicle was hit by bullets on his head and leg, she said, adding, he was rushed to the Army’s 151 base hospital at Tezpur where he was declared brought dead.
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The place of ambush, over 200 km from the State capital, is about 60 km from district headquarters Tezpur and 20 km from Dhekiajuli police station near the Arunachal Pradesh border.
The five injured policemen admitted to the Kanaklata Civil Hospital in Tezpur were identified as Umakanta Bailong (38), Rubul Borah (26), Dhiraj Bharali (38), Janak Basumatary and Pinku Borah (25).
Three of the injured, whose condition is stated to be critical, were taken to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital from the Kanaklata civil hospital in Tezpur, police sources said.
Locals protest
After the news spread, local people in Dhekiajuli took to the streets spontaneously in huge numbers condemning the NDFB and damaged a designated office of the pro-talk NDFB faction, the sources said.