A self-styled area commander of a militant outfit in Assam's Karbi Anglong district was killed in a gun battle with security forces on Monday, an official said.The militant - identified as Seme Kro of the Karbi Peoples' Liberation Tigers (KPLT) - was killed in Bhelughat area of the district, said a statement from Guwahati-based defence spokesperson Lt. Col. Suneet Newton.A joint security forces team, comprising the army and police, launched an operation in Bhelughat after receiving a tip that a KPLT militant was taking shelter in the area.
The security forces asked the militant to surrender but he fired at them, leading to a gun battle in which the man was gunned down, the statement said.The spokesperson said Kro was a senior leader of the outfit and was involved in several crimes in the past.A 7.65 mm pistol with magazine, one live round of ammunition and incriminatory documents were recovered from the slain militant.In another incident, security forces apprehended a cadre of the National Santhal Liberation Army (NSLA) on Sunday night in Silaimatha area in Kokrajhar district, the statement said.