Top NDFB commander killed in Assam

In a major success against the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), a joint team of army and Assam Police on Tuesday gunned down the outfit's Sonitpur district commander, Khamkhang.

The militant was killed in a gun battle at Batasipur in Sonitpur district around 8 a.m. on Tuesday, a defence spokesman based in Guwahati, said.

"Khamkhang had become a synonym for terror in the area and he was particularly known for kidnapping for ransom, extortion and killings. He was a key figure involved in planning and execution of the gruesome Adivasi massacre last year," he said.

A pistol and some live ammunition were recovered from the slain militant.

"The army had got specific intelligence input that Khamkhang was moving in the area. Based on the information, an operation was planned to nab him," the spokesman said.

"The militant, however, attacked the security forces by lobbing a grenade and opened fire," the spokesman said, adding that he was eventually killed in the gun battle.

He also said that the NDFB faction's top brass was considering Khamkhang's name for appointment as commander-in-chief in order to rejuvenate the group and boost the flagging morale of the cadres which is at its lowest ebb due to the relentless operations by the security forces.