Assam Rifles jawan injured in ambush at Namdang, ULFA-I claims responsibility

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 16, 2024

Extremists of Paresh Baruah-led United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) ambushed a convoy of three vehicles of 13 Assam Rifles leading to the injury of an army jawan seriously at Namdang near Margherita along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border on Tuesday.

The incident took place at around 7.40 am. The injured jawan has been airlifted from Ledo by an army chopper to the Military Hospital in Jorhat.

Claiming responsibility for the ambush ULFA-I’s publicity wing member “Captain” Romel Asom said that “Operation Pratishodh” was dedicated to the three deceased ULFA cadres- 2nd Lt Gyan Asom, Sergeant Major Yangkhu Asom and Lt Uday Asom.

The army convoy was moving from Changland in Arunachal Pradesh to Margherita in Assam’s Tinsukia district.

The first vehicle of the convoy crossed the road while two others were stuck on the road due to the ambush.

It is reported that the militant fired indiscriminately at the convoy besides lobbing hand grenades at the vehicles.

The ULFA-I claimed that several army vehicles were also damaged due to the operation.

Confirming the report, Defence spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said: “A vehicle-mounted patrol of three vehicles of Assam Rifles moving from Changlang towards Margherita was ambushed by unknown personnel near Namdhang at around 8:30 am on April 16.”

“The troops retaliated and thwarted the ambush. In the process, one person sustained gunshot wounds. The individual has been evacuated to the military hospital Jorhat and his condition is stable,” Rawat added.