Goalpara: Goalpara police and Gorkha Rifles of the army apprehended two militants belonging to the A'chik Liberation Army in a joint operation at Dudhnoi, nearly 40km from Goalpara town, on Saturday evening.

They were identified as Silgrak Sangma, also known as Amar Thapa, a resident of Bakrapul village under Dudhnoi police station and Changke R. Marak from Rongjeng in Meghalaya. The police recovered a pistol and three bullets from the duo. "They came to Dudhnoi to abduct a person for extortion," the superintendent of police, Goalpara, Amitava Sinha, said.

Silgrak is the brother of William Sangma who was involved in several abductions in various districts of Assam, including Goalpara.

"William and a few others formed the A'chik Liberation Army and continued abductions and extortions in the border areas like Hahim, Rajapara, Dudhnoi and Krishnai, among others. William was caught in a joint operation by Goalpara police and Bongaigoan police in June. He is at present in jail," Sinha said.

Silgrak was recently released from jail.