Guwahati, Oct. 28: Two unidentified militants were killed last night in an encounter with security personnel at Panbari reserve forest, a part of the Kaziranga National Park.

Army said based on specific information, the troops conducted an operation late last night in the reserve forest, which is a key animal corridor.

“Militants holed up inside the forest fired at the troops and in the retaliatory fire, two rebels died. Two pistols have been recovered from their possession,” an army officer said.

He said that a few more militants, who were a part of the group, managed to escape towards the Karbi Anglong hills under cover of darkness. The encounter took place near the Madarjuri anti-poaching camp of the national park.

Officer-in-charge of Bokakhat police station, Robin Malakar, said the army personnel informed them about the encounter at around 1.30am. Subsequently, a police team was sent to the site of the incident. The bodies have been sent to Golaghat for post-mortem.

Kaziranga director S.N. Buragohain, however, ruled out that the incident would have an impact on the tourist season when the park opens on November 1. “Now the poachers will think twice before carrying out their activities in Kaziranga because of the vigil by the security forces,” he said.