Guwahati, May 18 (IANS) A self-styled area commander of a militant outfit in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district was killed in a gun battle with security forces on Monday, an official said.

The militant – identified as Seme Kro of the Karbi Peoples’ Liberation Tigers (KPLT) – was killed in Bhelughat area of the district, said a statement from Guwahati-based defence spokesperson Lt. Col. Suneet Newton.
A joint security forces team, comprising the army and police, launched an operation in Bhelughat after receiving a tip that a KPLT militant was taking shelter in the area.
The security forces asked the militant to surrender but he fired at them, leading to a gun battle in which the man was gunned down, the statement said.
The spokesperson said Kro was a senior leader of the outfit and was involved in several crimes in the past.
A 7.65 mm pistol with magazine, one live round of ammunition and incriminatory documents were recovered from the slain militant.
In another incident, security forces apprehended a cadre of the National Santhal Liberation Army (NSLA) on Sunday night in Silaimatha area in Kokrajhar district, the statement said.

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