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Regular-article-logo Friday, 27 June 2025

12 SULFA MEN KILLED IN ASSAM 

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FROM PULLOCK DUTTA Published 21.06.01, 12:00 AM
Jorhat, June 21 :    Jorhat, June 21:  Twelve surrendered militants were gunned down today by their former colleagues at Moran Polo Club nearly 7 km from Moran police station in Dibrugarh district at 11.15 am. Ten Sulfa men were injured in the attack, which is being seen as the worst-ever assault carried out by the Ulfa on their former colleagues. The Moran Polo Club is on the border of Sivasagar and Dibrugarh districts. Unofficial sources put the toll at 14. The injured were admitted to Pragati nursing home at Sivasagar and later shifted to Assam Medical College hospital in Dibrugarh. The condition of one is stated to be critical. Sivasagar deputy commissioner Ravi Kota said the surrendered militants of the district had called a meeting at Moran Polo Club today. 'The meeting, scheduled for 11.30 am, had not started and about 70 boys were chatting in small groups, when armed men arrived at the spot in two vehicles and attacked the surrendered militants,'' the deputy commissioner said. He said going by the number of bodies found in different parts of the club - bathroom, the hall - and a few outside the premises indicated that it was a selective killing. 'The militants did not fire indiscriminately. There were no bullet marks found on the walls anywhere,'' Kota said. The militants, who came in two vehicles - a Maruti Zen and a Maruti van- first shot dead three Sulfa men waiting near the entrance of the club. The group then entered inside the club and chased the selected targets. While 12 died on the spot, four others were wounded. The victims were identified as Jintu Sharma, Ajit Sangmai, Gafaruddin Bora, Molin Chetia, Muhi Baruah, Haresh Gohain, Parag Rajkonwar, Manoj Agarwalla, Khirod Gogoi, Biren Gogoi, Sachen Shyam and Paresh Bharaili. The incident took place a week after Army operations were suspended in Sivasagar district. Sources said all the victims had directly or indirectly helped the security forces in counter-insurgency operations. An army officer of the intelligence wing in Sivasagar district said the boys were killed selectively. A Sulfa man who managed to escape the carnage told The Telegraph over phone that the masked assailants, all between the age group of 20 and 25, entered the club and selected the targets. 'It's him, kill him, some of them shouted,' he said. Few of the surrendered militants were even chased and shot inside the bathroom, he added. 'The group fired blankly soon after entering the club premises,' he said. But the PSOs and drivers present there were not attacked. The Sulfa unit of Sivasagar district had called today's meeting to sort out future plans in the present political scenario. They had also published a leaflet, signed by nine surrendered militants, to call the meeting. Three main organisers of the meeting, including Samar Kakati alias Mridul Phukon, were not present at the meeting. Phukon left for Delhi this morning. 'They have not approached the district administration. It is also quite interesting as to why they arranged the meeting at Moran Polo Club and not somewhere in Sivasagar district,' the deputy commissioner said. Kushal Deuri alias Jayanata Hazarika, top surrendered militant of the district who fought the last Assembly elections as an Independent candidate, was not invited to the meeting for taking part in the polls. Deuri, who was the president of Jatiya Mahasabha, apex body of the surrendered militants, said: 'Surrendered militants avoid me these days. I was not invited for the meeting,' Hazarika told The Telegraph over phone. The deputy commissioner said it was surprising that there was no retaliatory firing from the militants. 'Most of the surrendered militants generally carry weapons and they also have PSOs. It is surprising that there was no retaliatory firing,' he added. The deputy commissioner said though Ulfa was the prime suspect, the incident could be the result of a rivalry between two groups of surrendered militants. 'It is not clear till now. Investigations are on,' he added. A police official said if the Ulfa was involved in the incident, information was provided by some surrendered militants. Terming the attack as 'stupidity', former publicity secretary of the Ulfa Sunil Nath called for 'restraint' on the part of the Sulfa.    
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