Three members of a fledgling militant outfit Karbi United Liberation Army (KULA), including its self-styled Chairman, have been arrested in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Wednesday, police said.
Acting on the information that extortion demands have been placed to numerous individuals by a newly formed militant outfit over phone and also by demand letters, the police launched an operation in several areas of the district.
The police first picked up the outfit’s self-styled finance secretary Thengtom Hanse from Sar Hanse village under Diphu police station on Tuesday and following his interrogation another member Pranab Timung alias was arrested from Balijan village under Bakalia police station, Deputy Superintendent of Police Nahid Karishma said.
An operation was launched last night at Langbaku area under Manja Police station after the police received information of the movement of the outfit’s Chairman Daniel Teron and other members of the area.
On seeing the police, the militants opened fire and an encounter followed in which Teron received bullet injuries and was shifted to the Diphu Medical College Hospital.
The police recovered a .22 pistol with ammunition, an AK magazine along with ammunitions, a khukri, a writing pad of the outfit, army fatigue uniforms , mobile phones and several SIM cards and some documents, including extortion demand letters.
Special Director General of Police G P Singh in a tweet said that some ”misguided youths wanted to bring disquiet to Karbi Anglong through extortion and violence by forming the KULA which has been dismantled”.
”We will leave no stone unturned to stabilise peace in the Hill districts of Assam. Miscreants will be dealt with a firm hand”, he added.