Fierce Encounter in Assam: Three Militants Killed, Three Policemen Injured

Three Hmar militants were killed, and three police personnel injured in an encounter in Cachar, Assam. The militants were preparing subversive activities along the Assam-Manipur border. Police seized weapons and launched a special operation based on inputs. Some injured militants and three police officers were hospitalized.

At least three Hmar militants were killed and three police personnel were injured in a fierce encounter in Cachar district of Assam on Wednesday, officials said.

The deceased militants were part of a larger group, which was preparing to carry out ''subversive activities'' along the Assam-Manipur border areas, a senior police officer said.

''In an early morning operation, @cacharpolice killed 3 Hmar militants from Assam and neighbouring Manipur. Police also seized 2 AK rifles, 1 other rifle and 1 pistol,'' Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a post on X.

Addressing a press conference later, Cachar SP Numal Mahatta said police received an input regarding movement of suspected militants at Krishnapur road area.

''A police team rushed to the location. Three persons were arrested along with sophisticated weapons near Ganganagar while on way towards Bhuban Hills in an autorickshaw,'' he said.

Mahatta said as per preliminary investigation, the apprehended trio were members of a Hmar extremist organisation and trained cadres.

Two of them were from Cachar and one was from Churachandpur in Manipur.

From them, one AK-47 rifle, a single-barrel rifle and one pistol were recovered along with live ammunition, he said.

''During interrogation, they revealed that some of their cadres were hiding in a nearby jungle in Bhuban Hills and planning to carry out some subversive activities along the Assam-Manipur border with a huge cache of arms,'' the SP said.

Subsequently, a special operation was launched led by the district additional SP along with commandos on the Bhuban Hills side for apprehending more militants on the basis of inputs provided by the three arrested insurgents, who accompanied the security forces. ''The moment we reached there, they started indiscriminate firing. Six-seven militants were hiding at the spot. The police team immediately retaliated. There was heavy exchange of fire from both the sides,'' Mahatta said.

The apprehended militants, who were wearing bulletproof jackets and helmets, suffered grievous injuries during the encounter and were immediately shifted to Sonai Primary Health Centre and later to Silchar Medical College and Hospital, where the attending doctor declared them dead, he said.

The SP also said that three police personnel got severely injured during the exchange of fire and were admitted at the SMCH.

''On the other hand, the six-seven militants managed to flee, taking cover of the darkness and uneven terrain,'' Mahatta said.

The place was thoroughly searched and police recovered one more assault rifle along with live ammunition and a number of empty cases, he said.

''The entire area has been cordoned off by security personnel and a search operation is being carried out to trace the fleeing militants,'' he added.

(With inputs from agencies.)