Violence has not returned to the district known as the country's sugarcane-belt, but political divisions remain as Hindus typically vote for BJP and Muslims for the opposition
ULFA kills three Indian soldiers in Assam
At least three Indian soldiers have been killed in an ambush by rebels of the United Liberation Front of Assam (Paresh Barua Independent) in upper Assam.
Published : 19 Nov 2016, 06:05 AM
Updated : 19 Nov 2016, 09:40 AM
The rebels surprised the troops during a cordon and search operation by the army in the early hours of Saturday inside the Burhi Dihing reserve forest in Tinsukia district in Upper Assam, more than 500 kms from state capital Guwahati.
They fired rocket propelled grenades at the soldiers, killing three of them on the spot and critically injuring four others.
The encounter took place near the same area where one person was killed and two others sustained injuries, when ULFA rebels attacked a cash van belonging to Pengeri tea estate on Wednesday.
ULFA military wing chief Paresh Barua claimed responsibility for the attack on the soldiers.
Assam police intelligence officials say India's demonetisation move has badly hit all insurgent groups, including the ULFA because their huge stash of high denomination notes were now rendered useless.
That is why, they said, the ULFA had attacked the cash van which was carrying new currency notes for paying tea garden workers.
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