An Army captain and two militants from the United Liberation Front of Asom were killed in a fierce gun battle in Assam on Sunday. The gunfight, led by personnel from the 7/11 Gorkha Regiment, took place at Borpathar in Tinsukia district of eastern Assam.

Acting on a tip off, the Gorkha Regiment raided the Mechaki reserve forest area at Hankhati where the militants, including hardcore ULFA ultra Joond Bhuyan, were sheltered. When the militants opened fire at the approaching militants, the securitymen retaliated and heavy exchange of fire continued for nearly an hour.

Captain S K Chowdhury, who received the Sena Meda on Republic Day for his outstanding service to the nation, was seriously injured during the encounter. He died on his way to the hospital.

Two ULFA militants also died in the encounter while Bhuyan was hit by a bullet, but managed to escape. The slain ULFA militants were identified as Chandan Dohotia and Tutu Moran. Army personnel recovered one AK 47 rifle, two magazines with 100 rounds of live ammunition and an improvised explosive device fitted with 5 kg of explosives from the encounter site.

The Army rushed additional troops to the area to continue its search operation.