Suspected tribal militants of the Zeliangrong United Front attacked the post of 6 Indian Reserve Battalion located at Tupul in Tamenglong district at midnight on Sunday. The militants had used guns and automatic rifles to attack the post located in the mountains.
Reports say that the IRB personnel also retaliated and there was a heavy exchange of fire for several minutes. However there was no report of casualty on either side. Some tribal outfits are very active in this mountain district.
Meanwhile, a combined team of Assam Rifles and police commandos rescued two labourers, engaged in the construction of rail line in Tamenglong district, who were abducted by armed tribals. The labourers were identified as Debasish Mandal of West Bengal and Ajit Sinha of Assam. They were employees of M/s ABC Infrastructure Pvt Ltd.
Armed tribals had abducted them on March 2 from Ukhrul district.
There have been threats from several tribal organisations to launch agitations if the kidnappers do not release them. There had been instances of kidnapping labourers to extort ransom from the construction companies.
