MirBadshah
BANNED
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2007
- Messages
- 523
- Reaction score
- 0
Six army soldiers injured in landmine explosion in India's NE
Guwahati, India, April 26, IRNA
India-Northeast-Blast
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-235/0704260015172219.htm
At least four Indian army soldiers were wounded on Wednesday in a powerful landmine explosion triggered by separatists in India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, officials said.
An army official said the blast that took place near the village of Chokham in Lohit district, about 600 km from the state capital Itanagar, was suspected to be carried out by militants of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
"A group of soldiers were traveling on a convoy when one of the vehicles was hit by the landmine injuring four soldiers, two of them critically," an army commander said requesting not to be named.
The ULFA is a rebel group fighting for an independent homeland since 1979 in Assam state with the group recently setting up bases in adjoining Arunachal Pradesh following a massive military offensive launched in Assam.
"The soldiers were on a routine patrol when the incident took place. The area is remote and located in a densely forested area," the army official said.
Details of the incident were awaited.
The attack is seen as retaliation to the killing of eight ULFA militants by army soldiers earlier this month in the same Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh.
"They (ULFA) are getting frustrated with heavy reverses faced by them in recent months, including three of their cadres killed in an encounter Tuesday in Assam," the official said.
The ULFA have been on the run after a massive military launched January after the outfit killed about 80 people, 60 of them Hindi- speaking migrant workers in eastern Assam.
Intelligence reports earlier said the ULFA had shifted its base from Assam to the jungles in adjoining Arunachal Pradesh, while many have sneaked into camps located in neighboring Myanmar after the army offensive.
The ULFA last month rejected Assam government's offer for unconditional talks and warned of stepped up violence, including using human bombs to attack selected targets.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had offered unconditional peace talks with the ULFA, aimed at ending close to three decades of insurgency in the region.
The ULFA said direct talks could be possible only if New Delhi agrees to discuss their core demand of sovereignty or independence, and release five of their jailed leaders.
More than 10,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Assam during the past two decades.
Guwahati, India, April 26, IRNA
India-Northeast-Blast
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-235/0704260015172219.htm
At least four Indian army soldiers were wounded on Wednesday in a powerful landmine explosion triggered by separatists in India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, officials said.
An army official said the blast that took place near the village of Chokham in Lohit district, about 600 km from the state capital Itanagar, was suspected to be carried out by militants of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
"A group of soldiers were traveling on a convoy when one of the vehicles was hit by the landmine injuring four soldiers, two of them critically," an army commander said requesting not to be named.
The ULFA is a rebel group fighting for an independent homeland since 1979 in Assam state with the group recently setting up bases in adjoining Arunachal Pradesh following a massive military offensive launched in Assam.
"The soldiers were on a routine patrol when the incident took place. The area is remote and located in a densely forested area," the army official said.
Details of the incident were awaited.
The attack is seen as retaliation to the killing of eight ULFA militants by army soldiers earlier this month in the same Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh.
"They (ULFA) are getting frustrated with heavy reverses faced by them in recent months, including three of their cadres killed in an encounter Tuesday in Assam," the official said.
The ULFA have been on the run after a massive military launched January after the outfit killed about 80 people, 60 of them Hindi- speaking migrant workers in eastern Assam.
Intelligence reports earlier said the ULFA had shifted its base from Assam to the jungles in adjoining Arunachal Pradesh, while many have sneaked into camps located in neighboring Myanmar after the army offensive.
The ULFA last month rejected Assam government's offer for unconditional talks and warned of stepped up violence, including using human bombs to attack selected targets.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had offered unconditional peace talks with the ULFA, aimed at ending close to three decades of insurgency in the region.
The ULFA said direct talks could be possible only if New Delhi agrees to discuss their core demand of sovereignty or independence, and release five of their jailed leaders.
More than 10,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Assam during the past two decades.
