Karbi militant chief believed killed

Guwahati, May 7 (IANS) A mutilated body believed to be that of Blain Hanse, commander-in-chief of the banned outfit Karbi Peoples' Liberation Tigers (KPLT), was recovered in central Assam's Karbi Anglong district Monday.

According to police, the body was recovered from Tarapung area under Chokihola police station in the district.

"The body, which we suspect to be of KPLT chief Blain Hanse, was recovered in mutilated condition. It appears that he had been killed a few days back and dumped," Karbi Anglong Superintendent of Police (SP) B.B. Chetri said.

"We are almost sure that the body is of Blain Hanse. However, we can confirm it only after the mandatory identification by his family members," he said.

Police had received some information about a fratricidal fight among the rank and file of the outfit and subsequent killing of Hanse a few days back. However, police could not confirm it due to non-recovery of the body.

Last month, another top leader of the outfit - Nilip Inghy - was killed in a joint operation by the army and police in Tarapung area. The outfit's founder chairman Apang Ingty was also killed in an operation by security forces in 2011.

Hanse was killed by his colleagues when he tried to shoot one of them over some differences of opinion. In the scuffle, however, he got killed on the night of May 2. Two of his bodyguards also received bullet injuries during the fight, sources said.

The Assam Police last month launched a crackdown on the KPLT as the outfit had stepped up its extortion and kidnapping activities in the district.