NLFT ultras gun down five

AGARTALA, March 24: Militants belonging to the outlawed National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) have struck once again at Shikaribari area in Dhalai district this morning at around 8 am, killing two CRPF jawans and three civilians in an ambush on a passenger convoy on Assam-Agartala highway. The militants also decamped with one carbine, one SLR and one wireless set from the slain CRPF men. Seven were injured in the attack. This is the second major ambush on security forces and civilians carried out by the same militant outfit in one week and the third one this month. Only on March 21 the NLFT militants waylaid a BSF-GREF convoy in adjoining North Tripura district on a border road killing eight persons. On March 3 last the militants shot dead 13 persons including 11 CRPF jawans at Bampur in South Tripura. In all the incidents militants snatched way the weapons which included two LMGs, five carbines and five SLRs. Police said, the militants waylaid the first passenger convoy on the National Highway-44 that comes from Manu to Ambassa everyday. The passenger vehicles were being escorted by the 'E' company of the 115 battalion of CRPF. Heavily-armed militants opened fusillade of automatic fire from hilltops at the first CRPF jeep which was followed by a truck. The CRPF jawans were caught by surprise and two were killed in the jeep. Three passengers from the truck were also hit and succumbed on the spot. Before the other escort vehicles reached the spot and resorted to counter-fire, the militants under heavy cover of fire from their comrade-in-arms in hilltops, came down to snatch away the weapons. CRPF IG Bhagesh Misra and DIG range of police A K Sukla rushed to the spot. Combing operation has been launched to round up the militants, police said.