Dhubri, Jan. 6: A Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebel was killed in an encounter with army and police at Nabang under Krishnai police station of Goalpara district today. One US-made carbine was recovered from the slain militant, who has been identified as Asel Sangma, 25, with the help of an identity card recovered from his pocket, an army source said.

A police source in Goalpara said the police-army joint team launched an operation after receiving a tip-off that a group of three militants belonging to Ulfa and GNLA was moving in the Nabang area close to the Assam-Meghalaya border.

Two Ulfa cadres — Nior Rabha and Bruce Rabha — who were among the three militants and had exchanged fire with security forces managed to flee from the scene, the source said.

Security forces also recovered Ulfa extortion letters signed by Drishti Rajkhowa from the slain rebel.