Dibrugarh, Nov. 19: The militant ambush on an army team at Pengeri in Tinsukia district and the counter-insurgency operation that followed forced nearly 1,000 residents to leave their villages out of fear this morning.

Khirod Phukan, a resident of Pengeri, told The Telegraph over phone that he woke up to a loud sound around 5am and people in the village gathered together. "We rushed out and saw black smoke from a distance. We are very afraid as militants had attacked one person a few kilometres away at Pengeri tea estate a few days ago."

As the army, police and CRPF personnel moved to the area and intensified counter insurgency operations, many villagers of Pengeri left their homes and took shelter in a primaryschool building. Most of the people were senior citizens, women and children. A four-day-old baby and a 90-year-old man were among them. "We don't know what will happen. We moved out from our village because we fear that we will face harassment from security personnel and we can be victims during the operations between security forces and militants," said Hira Gogoi, another resident of Pengeri.

Fear among residents increased after they saw army helicopters hovering over the Pengeri sky for operations against the militants.

More than a thousand people live in at least 12 villages at Pengeri reserve forest that shares a border with Arunachal Pradesh. "We don't know what will happen at night," said a woman who took shelter in the school.

Tinsukia deputy commissioner Ranjan Chakraborty, however, told The Telegraph that most of the villagers had returned home by evening. "We were prepared to provide them relief material but most of them returned home," he said.

Sources said some youths were still out of their villages fearing harassment by security forces during counter- insurgency operation. Digboi BJP legislator Suren Phukan, who visited the spot, also condemned the attack on the army jawans. "Members of Ulfa (I) are now getting frustrated as they have become penniless after demonetisation by the Centre," he said.

Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, in a statement issued in Guwahati this evening, said such attacks by militants was a threat to a peaceful society and the government would leave no stone unturned to punish the insurgents involved in the killing. "The present government in the state has been working to expedite all-round development in the state by maintaining a robust law and order situation. However, some proscribed organisations are trying to disturb peace by carrying out subversive activities. The government is committed to foiling such forces," said the statement.

Additional reporting by Sumir Karmakar in Guwahati