6 cops among 10 killed in Assam

GUWAHATI, Dec 20 (UNI) — At least 10 persons, including six policemen of the seventh Assam Police Battalion, were killed when suspected ULFA militants blew up their jeep with a powerful timed device in Lower Assam's Dhubri district this morning, official sources said.

The blast took place when a police party led by Bilasipara police station officer in charge Sub-Inspector Jiten Phukan was returning after apprehending four suspected extremists from Raniganj.

The jeep was blown off between Bilasipara and Raniganj, killing all occupants, the sources said.

The names of the other police personnel killed are driver havildar Karen Basumatary, Lance Naik K. Lepcha, constable Prabhat Deka, constable Chakradhar Brahma and constable Dharmeswar Chutia.

Civil and police officials along with additional forces rushed to the site and launched combing operations to nab the extremists.

Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has condemned the brutal killing of the police personnel and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.

Mr Mahanta, who is now in New Delhi, in a message also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to next of kin of the deceased.

This is the second explosion within 48 hours in the state. The police detected a bomb fitted in an Ambassador car parked in front of the state secretariat and ministerial office at Dispur yesterday.

On Friday, eight persons were killed and more than 50 injured when a car bomb exploded near the capital complex at Dispur on the Guwahati-Shillong road.