Date:06/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/06/stories/2007050609690100.htm

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Top ULFA leader gunned down

Diphu (Assam): "Lieutenant" Rajiv Kalita alias Bipul Choudhury of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom's dreaded 27 battalion was killed in a gun battle in Assam's Karbi Anglong district. Security forces claim his death marks a major success in their operations against the outfit.

Superintendent of Police Anurag Tangkha said on Saturday that Kalita was shot dead during a gun battle that erupted on Friday night while soldiers of the J-K Rifles and the state police were conducting a house-to-house search in Sunpura village after getting a tip-off about the movement of eight ULFA cadres in the area.

During the search, security forces detected a group of two to three persons running away to avoid apprehension. On being challenged, the fleeing rebels opened fire. The security forces retaliated, killing Kalita, Mr. Tangkha said. Kalita's killing was a major success for security forces, who launched an operation in recent months against ULFA's 27 battalion. — PTI