Three militants killed in Assam bomb blast

Three militants of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) faction that is opposed to any talks were killed Friday in a blast in Assam's Goalpara district, police said.

The three militants were taking shelter in a farmer's house in Mongrey village. A bomb went off in the morning, killing the three on the spot, police said.

"The three have been taking shelter in Mongrey with explosives. They must have entered the district to carry out subversive activities ahead of the Independence Day. However, the bomb got exploded Friday, and killed them on the spot," said Goalpara Superintendent of Police Nitul Gogoi.

"The militants are yet to be identified," he said adding a grenade, a pistol and incriminating documents were recovered from the slain militants.

The central government recently alerted the Assam government and the forces involved in counter-insurgency operations about possible attacks by the anti-talks militant outfits like the ULFA and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) ahead of Aug 15.

On July 23, the anti-talks faction of the ULFA militants triggered a blast close to Krishnai police station in Goalpara, killing one person. The militants had planted improvised explosive device (IED) in a bicycle outside a tea stall.