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Six killed in militant attack in Tripura

At least five villagers and an extremist were killed while militants burnt down many houses in South Tripura district yesterday.

The police said today that the heavily armed militants raided Dhalachara village under Taidu police station last night.

Assam Rifles personnel rushed to the spot and engaged in a gun battle with the rebels. After half-an-hour of firing, the ultras managed to escape. Before leaving the village tribal guerillas shot dead four villagers, including a woman, on the spot and burnt down many houses. At least four villagers were also shot at in the militants' attack.

The soldiers later recovered a militant's body from the spot. The rebel was killed during the encounter. A self-loading rifle and huge quantities of ammunition was recovered.

Combing operations are on. Additional security forces have also been sent to the area.

In another incident, at Sakbari under Manu Bazar, police station in south Tripura district yesterday, militants attacked an Agartala bound bus, killed a passenger and abducted at least 14 others.

Ultras stopped the bus at gun point and asked all the male passengers to get out of the bus. Then they asked the passengers to run into the jungle. Those who could not run were severely beaten and one of them was shot dead on the spot. Some passengers managed to escape, but 14 remained in the militants' custody.

Senior police officials along with additional security forces have rushed to the spot and launched a combing operation to rescue captives and nab militants.

With yesterday's Taidu incident 14 people, including a student, have been killed by militants. Tension has been high in the entire Amarpur sub-division of South Tripura since September 15.

Meanwhile, life was paralysed in the Sabroom sub-division today following a 12-hour bandh called by the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist in protest against yesterday's militant attack. Schools, colleges, offices and business establishments remained closed while vehicles were off the road.

UNI

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