Agartala: In a surprise attack, nine jawans of the territorial army were on October 9 killed by insurgents of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) at Sindhukumarpara of Dhalai district, police said.

Police said a group of heavily armed NLFT insurgents, hiding in a bush, sprayed bullets on a vehicle carrying 12 jawans of the territorial army at Sindhukumarpara killing nine of them on the spot and injuring three others, including the driver of the vehicle.

The vehicle was going to Raisayabari from Sindhukumarpara when the ultras ambushed it, police said.

The insurgents also looted two light machine guns (LMG) and six 7.62 self- loading rifles (SLR) from the slain jawans.

The injured were shifted to hospital, police said.

Senior police officials, including superintendent of police (SP) Sourabh Tripathi and DIG (Range) rushed to the scene and massive search operations have been launched in the entire area to track down the ultras.

PTI