Agartala: Underground militants on August 12 killed three jawans of Assam Rifles and injured another at Gangaharipara in West Tripura district, about 25 km from Agratala.

Police said acting on a tip off, the jawans of Assam Rifles conducted a search operations in different parts of Takarjala police station area early in the morning and were fired upon by the insurgents of banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT).

As the jawans retaliated, a 15-minute long encounter ensued in which three jawans were killed. While two died on the spot, another died on way to hospital.

The injured jawan was admitted to the G B hospital in Agartala.

Top officials of Assam Rifles and state police rushed to the spot with reinforcement and conducted a massive search operation in the area.

Seven policemen were killed by militants in the state on August 11. The ruling CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) on August 12 called a dawn to dusk bandh in the Mohanpur block area in protest against the yesterday's gruesome killing.

PTI