Attempt to blow up rail track in Assam foiled; one militant killed

On the eve of Independence day, a joint Army and police team foiled an attempt by Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) militants to blow up a stretch of rail track between Korajhar and Guwahati railway stations in Assam.

A KLO militant was killed in the subsequent encounter between security forces and ultras.

Based on specific intelligence, the Army and the police had launched an operation at Rabha Para village late last night and spotted some KLO militants trying to plant an Improvised Explosive Device on the track, sources said.

The militants opened fire and the security team retaliated, injuring a KLO militant who later died in hospital, the sources said.

A 7 kg IED with detonator, a 7.65 mm pistol, a pistol magazine, some fired cases and live rounds and two hand grenades were recovered from the spot, the sources said.

The ultras were planning to blow up the track which falls under North East Frontier Railway to disrupt Independence Day celebrations, the sources said.