Kidnapped FCI director killed in cross-fire

Terror Strikes

Kidnapped FCI official PC Ram was killed in a crossfire between a police team and a group of Ulfa militants in Assam's Kamrup district, a senior police official said.

Two Ulfa militants were also killed in the gunbattle at Borkapanitenga village that began last night and continued till early morning, IGP (Special Branch) Khagen Sarmah said.

"We are sure this time that it is Ram as we had prior information about his whereabouts in that particular village for the last 24 hours. We are sure, but we want Ram's family members to ascertain it," he said. The Ulfa also confirmed that Ram had been killed.

Ram was kidnapped by the Ulfa from the Ulubari area of Guwahati on April 17. A body, believed to be his, was subsequently dug out of a field in the Baksa district and identified by his son Prabin Gautam.

Shortly after the body was cremated in New Delhi on July 2, the Ulfa told the media that Ram, the FCI's seniormost official in the northeast, was alive. This prompted security forces to launch fresh operations to trace Ram.

Acting on specific information that some Ulfa militants had taken shelter in the house of Gobind Deka in Borkapanitenga, police launched an operation last night, DIG GP Singh said.

Around 9 pm, police surrounded the house and asked the militants to surrender. The militants, however, fired at the policemen, who retaliated.

Singh said there was heavy exchange of fire for over three hours. Police entered the house around 12:30 am and found bodies of two militants and the bullet-riddled body of an elderly man, who looked like Ram. Singh said Ram's family had been requested to confirm the body's identity.

Police seized two AK-56 rifles, a pistol, a grenade, an IED and huge amount of ammunition.

Ram's son Prabin has been informed and is scheduled to arrive in Guwahati this evening along with senior FCI officials and Ram's brother Balak.

The three bodies have been sent to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital for autopsy.