The Central Bureau of Investigation has started its investigation into the July 11 death of Food Corporation of India executive director (north east) P C Ram during an encounter between the Assam police and United Liberation Front of Asom militants holding him hostage, according to official sources.

A two-member investigation team of the CBI, led by investigating officer B S Chauhan, on Tuesday visited the house of Govinda [Images] Deka at Borka Panitema in Kamrup district, the place where the encounter occurred.

Bullet-ridden bodies of two ULFA militants and the FCI official, who had been abducted from Christian Basti area in Guwahati city by ULFA ultras on April 17, were recovered by the police at the end of the gun-battle.

The police had claimed that it was not aware of the presence of the abducted FCI official along with the two ULFA militants who were holed up in the house.

However, the Assam government requested the CBI to investigate into the circumstances leading to Ram's death in the face of allegations that the police had engaged in a fierce gun battle with the militants despite knowing about Ram's presence.

The Criminal Investigation Department of the Assam police were already investigating the case before it was taken up by the CBI.

The CBI team surveyed the two rooms in the house where the two ULFA militants had taken refuge along with their hostage. The CBI team also collected documents related to the case from the state CID office in Guwahati and spoke with investigating officers.

In this first phase of investigations, related to gathering of materials and information, the CBI team also collected relevant medical reports and a list of articles seized by the police from the encounter site.

Initially, the CBI had refused to take up the investigation into the case, but relented after being requested by the Assam government a second time. Ram's family had also moved the Guwahati high court requesting a directive to the CBI to take up the investigation.