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Ultras kidnap 12 Agartala-bound bus passengers in Tripura

At least 12 passengers were kidnapped from a bus plying on the Guwahati-Agartala route under West Tripura district yesterday, army sources said.

Army and Assam Rifles spokesperson, Major Satinder Singh, said in Agartala that armed militants stopped an Agartala-bound passenger bus, coming from Guwahati, at 39 miles into the Athara Mura hill range under Teliamura police station. The ultras then abducted 11 passengers and the driver of the bus at gun-point.

Army and paramilitary personnel, besides state police officials, have rushed to the spot and have launched a massive combing operation to nab the militants and rescue the captives.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (operations) at police headquarters, Nepal Sinha, said the exact number of passengers kidnapped has not been confirmed yet and would be known only after the search party returned. The ultras, however, released some of the captives later, he added.

The bus which was coming to the capital did not have any security escort. Normally all vehicles plying through the Assam-Agartala national highway are provided with security escort.

UNI

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