Four NDFB militants killed, businessman rescued

GUWAHATI - Police shot dead four tribal separatists of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) Sunday and rescued a kidnapped businessman, officials said.

A police spokesperson said the encounter took place at a thickly forested area at Dekatan in Dhemaji district, about 350 km east of Assam’s main city Guwahati.

Based on specific information that businessman Cotton Nandi was held hostage at an NDFB hideout, a police team raided it, leading to the gun battle,” a police official said.

For two hours there was heavy exchange of gunfire, leaving all four NDFB rebels dead.

Apart from eliminating the militants, we managed to rescue the kidnapped businessman, the official said.

Nandi was kidnapped from Dhemaji area about a week ago by NDFB. The group was negotiating with his family to pay up a huge ransom to secure his release.

Two AK-56 series assault rifles, huge quantity of ammunition and radio sets were recovered from the hideout.