india

Updated: Nov 16, 2016 20:10 IST

One person was killed and two others sustained injuries when suspected militants attacked a cash van belonging to a tea garden in Tinsukia district of upper Assam on Wednesday.

The incident occurred around 8.45am when the van from Pengeri tea estate was fired at inside the upper Dihing reserve forest, nearly 510 km north-east of Guwahati. The van was on its way to collect cash for payment of labourers.

“There was indiscriminate firing at the vehicle for nearly 40 seconds near a bridge. One Nitai Pal, who works as a idol maker and was travelling in the vehicle, was killed on the spot,” said Tinsukia SP Mugdhajyoti Dev Mahanta.

One of the four Assam Industrial Security Force (AISF) personnel travelling in the vehicle and the driver sustained injuries in the attack. The injured are getting treated at Assam Medical College Hospital in Dibrugarh.

“Though it is yet to be confirmed, the attack could have been carried out by the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent),” Mahanta said.

Additional police force has been rushed to the area to carry out combing operations and nab those responsible for the attack.