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Guwahati, October 17 (IANS) Unidentified terrorists opened fire on an Indian Army post at Kakopathar in Tinsukia district of Assam around midnight on Friday, following which the troops immediately retaliated. The officers provided this information.
According to the statement issued by the army, the firing was done from a moving vehicle targeting the location of Kakopathar Company. “The troops on duty responded quickly and effectively, taking appropriate precautions to avoid accidental damage to nearby civilian homes,” the statement said.
The exchange of fire continued for several minutes before the attackers fled the area under pressure from the army in retaliation.
Initial reports indicate that the militants used automatic weapons in a mock attack aimed at testing the army’s preparedness. Although no major injuries were reported, three Army soldiers suffered minor injuries, officials confirmed.
The area has since been cleared and a joint search operation is underway with Assam Police to trace the attackers.
The latest incident has once again drawn attention to the delicate security situation in the insurgency-hit region of Upper Assam, which borders Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. Kakopathar, in particular, has historically witnessed militant activity, especially during the peak of the ULFA (Independence) movement.
In recent years, there have been intermittent efforts by militant groups to re-establish their presence in the region. In November 2023, suspected ULFA (I) cadres ambushed an Army patrol near Digboi, injuring two soldiers.
Earlier, security forces had a narrow escape in a similar attack in Pengeri in June 2022 when terrorists started firing from a forest area.
Security agencies believe that small insurgent cells are still active along the India-Myanmar border and attempt sporadic attacks to signal their existence.
However, officials claim that such attacks have declined drastically due to sustained counter-insurgency efforts.
Friday’s attack comes amid heightened security coordination in the eastern districts of Assam ahead of the festival season. Senior Army and police officials have reached the spot and reinforcement teams are continuing search operations in the surrounding forests and highways.
–IANS
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