Tinsukia, 17 October (HS): A powerful grenade and gunfire assault on an Indian Army camp late Thursday night sent waves of panic through Assam’s Kakopathar area.

According to initial reports, the attack occurred around 12:30 AM when suspected militants fired three Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGL) at the camp, quickly followed by a barrage of automatic gunfire that continued for nearly half an hour.

The night sky was ripped apart by explosions and bursts of bullets, jolting residents awake and spreading fear across nearby villages. Eyewitnesses said the assailants arrived in a truck before launching the strike.

Sources said at least three Army personnel sustained injuries, while the exact scale of the damage remains unclear.

Following the attack, the area was immediately sealed off as security forces initiated a massive search operation. Patrols and combing efforts are currently underway, with civilian movement temporarily restricted.

Preliminary probes suggest the involvement of the banned insurgent outfit ULFA (Independent), reviving fears of a resurgence in militant activity in upper Assam.

The strike is being seen as one of the most daring offensives in the region in recent times, underscoring the continued volatility along the insurgency-prone belt of Tinsukia.--------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash