By Sushanta Roy & Shib Shankar Chatterjee
DIPHU, May 4, 2012 – Blain Hansey, the Commander-in-Chief of Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT), an extremist group in Northeast Indian State, Assam, was killed in an inter-gang conflict on 2nd May, 2012, in their hideout inside the deep jungle of Tarapung of Karbi Anglong district of Assam State.
Initially, unofficial information had created confusion among the Indian Assam Sate Police Force (IASPF) department and Indian Army, who were engaged in a ‘counter insurgency operation’. The facts on this case came directly by information received from nearby villagers at Chokihola.
B. B. Chetri, Superintendent of Police of Karbi Anglong said, “We are yet to recover the dead body of Blain Hansey, until then, I cannot confirm to you officially, we have information about the incident, which has taken place inside the deep forest, we are trying to unearth the facts.”
According to information received, on the night of 2nd May, 2012, Blain, in an intoxicated condition, attempted to shoot one of his companions. In retaliation, his associate opened fire, killing Blain on the spot. His three bodyguards also received bullet injuries, and later, the body was buried near the hideout.
There have been three killings of KPLT leaders in the past year.
On 19th April, 2012, Chairman of the ultra group, Nilip Inghi, was killed in a joint operation between the Indian Army and the IASPF and before this, on 12th July, 2011, the founder Chairman of KPLT Apang Ingti was shot dead in another operation by Indian security forces.
After the death of its apex leaders in rapid succession, it will be significant to notice how the present Chairman of KPLT, Sarap Tunjai, will lead the organization.
