5 policemen killed in ambush near Diphu

GUWAHATI, July 27: At least six persons, including five policemen, were killed and five others received bullet injuries when a group of unidentified extremists ambushed a police party at Lalongdisha near Diphu in Karbi Anglong District early Tuesday morning. Though the identity of the extremists involved in the incident is yet to be ascertained, police suspect that it was a joint operation of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) and the Dima Halong Daogah (DHD). Police sources here said a police team headed by the additional superintendent of police of Karbi Anglong and deputy superintendent of police ( headquarter) had gone to conduct a raid in the Baralangphar area, about 20 km from Diphu town. After travelling about 12 km, the officers sent a team of policemen to Baralangphar police outpost asking for reinforcements. The team, which picked up one assistant sub-inspector of police and two constables from the outpost, were returning to join the original spot in a truck when they came under attack from the extremists at Lalongdisha. The sources said five policemen and the civilian driver were killed on the spot. The extremists used AK-series rifles in the attack. They also took away some arms and ammunition including three self-loading rifles (SLRs), two .303 rifles, one revolver, 150 rounds of SLR ammunition, 60 rounds of .303 ammunition and six rounds of revolver bullets from the police personnel. The police in Karbi Anglong has been hot on the heels of a roving group of NSCN militants. On July 24, the police and the militants were engaged in an encounter at Terongaon. No one was injured in the incident and the militants escaped. After Tuesday's incident, a full-scale operation has been launched to nab the ultras.