2 ULFA men killed in shootout near Assam CM's house

GUWAHATI: Two ULFA militants were killed in a shootout with the security forces on Wednesday between 1.15 pm and 2.35 pm near the residence of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at Ajanta Path here.
Three persons were injured seriously in the shootout.
According to additional superintendent of police Rana Bhuyan, the militants had kidnapped a government contractor Abidur Rehman from his residence in Hatigaon area of the city, who was subsequently released but they continued demanding money from him.
Bhuyan said that on getting information from Rehman some policemen in civilian clothes were posted in his house to nab the militants.
Rehman identified one of the militants who had come to collect the money on Wednesday. The militants started firing at the policemen, who began chasing them.
Dispur DSP H K Nath, who had gone to the area after hearing the gunshots, fired at one of the militants killing him on the spot. The militants was later identified as Speed Hazarika of the Enigma group of ULFA from Nagaon district.
One of the eye witnesses said that after killing the first militant the police party thought the other one had escaped till a girl came and informed that she had seen some one in their house thus leading to another exchange of fire and calling upon the second militant to surrender after giving up the weapon.
The second militant, Hemanta Neog, who had hidden at a nearby house, fired at the security forces led by superintendent of police Paresh Neog and injured a police commando Sadiq Ali as also two others. He was later shot dead by the police. Two 7.62 mm pistols were recovered from the militants'' possession.
Police thought that the same group was behind the mortar firing on Sunday night in the Dispur Capital complex area in which some vehicles were damaged, though no one was injured.
Earlier in the day, APCC president Paban Singh Ghatowar, while addressing the media called upon the Union government to take "appropriate steps" to ensure the closure of the militant camps in Bhutan.
Coming down heavily on the BJP-led NDA government Ghatowar said that they had no idea of the entire problem and mere pep talk with the Bhutan government would not solve the problem.
When asked if he advocated military action against the militants in Bhutan with the help of Bhutan government he said, "I don''t have to specify the action by the government, but whatever they do it should ensure closure of these camps."