A fierce encounter broke out between the police and the ULFA-I rebels at Besimari in Assam’s Bongaigaon district. 

Top ULFA-I leader and the outfit’s Commander for Western Command – Dwipen Saud has been killed in the encounter. 

Dwipen Saud had recently replaced former ULFA-I Deputy Commander-in-Chief Drishti Rajkhowa as the  Commander of the outfit’s Western Command.

“ULFA-I Commander Western Command, recently appointed to replace Drishti Rajkhowa, SS Col Dwipen Saud appears dead with bullet injury. He’s being taken to the hospital now,” informed Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta. 

“His gun man Padum Rai is apprehended alive with a weapon. Another weapon and a grenade recovered in the PO. Further search is on,” added Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta. 

Police carried out the operation after receiving specific intel about ULFA-I’s plans of some high-profile kidnapping. 

“We had intel that Ulfa Western Command was planning some high-profile kidnapping in collaboration with other anti-India forces which now appears to be foiled. Today’s successful operation is due to high quality police intel input that worked out precisely for on ground action,” Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta further said.