GUWAHATI, March 18 ? At least eight militants were killed in separate encounters with security forces in Nalbari, Dhubri and Kokrajhar during the last 24 hours. While four hard-core extremists of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) including a self-styled sergeant major and other members of the outfits? ?Enigma? group were slain in an encounter with security forces in Nalbari while three other ULFA ultras were killed in Dhubri and an NDFB ultra was killed in another encounter in Kokajhar. Nalbari correspondent adds : Atleast four hardcore militants belong to the ULFA were killed in two separate incidents of encounter with security personnel in Nalbari district within last 24 hours. The militants have been identified as sergeant major Hitesh Das of Mahina, lance corporal Dinesh Barman of Burinagar, Dwipen Barman of Paikarkuchi and Chilarai of Ranjuli, Goalpara district. They all belong to the outfit?s Enigma group.
Talking to the news persons at Nalbari police station, the Nalbari superintendent of police, Sarat Phukan said that two hardcore militants of the outfit, Dinesh and Hitesh, were killed at Akhara village under Barma police station during a joint operation police and army at 11.45 am today. Following a secret tip-off, the team of police and army cordoned the house of Sarbeswar Barman where the militants, Dinesh and Hitesh were taking shelter. The militants on seeing the security personnel fired at them by AK-47 series of assault rifles. The security men also retaliated killing the hardcore militants on the spot. Dinesh and Hitesh were involved in several killings and extortion cases of the district, the SP said, adding that they extorted over one crore of money in the district. In another encounter the Nalbari police also killed two ULFA militants at Guwakuchi village under Ghograpar police station last night. They were identified as Dwipen and Chilarai. The team of Nalbari police led by additional SP, Jitmol Doloi, cordoned off the house of the village where they were taking shelter. On seeing the police, they opened fire. The police also retaliated killing them on the spot. In the shot-out, the additional SP miraculously escaped. From both of the incidents, the police recovered a huge amount of arms and ammunition.