Assam's Tinsukia district witnessed a significant breakthrough as security forces, in a joint operation led by Assam Police and Assam Rifles, captured two militants affiliated with ULFA (Independent) on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported citing police sources.


The arrested militants, recognised as self-styled sergeants major Bibek Asom and Mrigen Asom, were taken into custody from Phaneng, located along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, the report said. 


Prior to this operation, authorities had detained an individual in relation to the Tinsukia incident.


A series of explosions in the Upper Assam region had raised concerns about public safety in the recent past. Three explosions occurred within 23 days in Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and Jorhat, all near Army and CRPF camps. The ULFA (Independent) had claimed responsibility for the December 14 blast near an army station gate in Jorhat district, as well as incidents on November 22 in Tinsukia and December 9 in Sivasagar. Click here to read more.


READ | Assam CM Announces Over 10,000 Jobs In Education Department


Three men were injured in police firing earlier this week in Assam's Tinsukia district when they attempted to flee from custody after attempting to snatch a pistol from an officer. According to a Hindustan Times report, the trio had ties to the banned United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) and had left their homes to join the group when they were apprehended.


The trio, all Chapakhuwa residents, planned to leave the vehicle and travel to Myanmar via the international border in Arunachal Pradesh, according to the report.


According to the report, when questioned, the trio stated that they had met in Dhola to plan their trip to Myanmar. A police team was transporting them to the location when they attempted to steal a pistol from an accompanying officer and flee, the report said further. 


The police team fired at them, and all three received gunshot wounds to their legs, according to SP Deka, who added that the trio was taken to the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh.