Guwahati: The proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) has claimed responsibility for an ambush on a patrol party of the Assam Rifles in Tinsukia district Tuesday.
One jawan was injured in the attack that came hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit Assam in the evening to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also was in Jorhat for campaign.
The incident took place around 8:30 am when a vehicle-mounted patrol of the paramilitary force was attacked near Namdhang village in Margherita subdivision, defence sources told ThePrint.
Though the total number of vehicles in the convoy has not yet been confirmed yet, sources in the defence establishment said three vehicles were caught in the ambush. The injured jawan was air-evacuated to the military hospital in Jorhat, and his condition is stated to be stable.
Meanwhile, central and state security forces have started combing operations in the area.
In a statement released shortly after the attack, ULFA(I) took responsibility and termed it an act of vengeance against the killings of two cadres in Tinsukia district. Its field commander, Uttam Lahon (alias Uday Asom), was killed in an encounter with police on 9 February last year, and Achinta Moran, also known as Yankhu Asom had died on 25 August, 2022 after being injured in an encounter with security personnel.
The statement mentioned Tuesday’s ambush as part of “Operation Pratishod” launched by the outfit against Indian security forces.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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