Two Assam Rifles personnel were killed and several others injured in an encounter with suspected militants near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border today.
The militants attacked an Assam Rifles vehicle escorting tourists and jawans of paramilitary forces retaliated and an encounter followed with sporadic firing still continuing.
Militants lobbed several grenades targeting the vehicleat Jagun 12th Mile Barabasti on NH-53 bordering Assam's Tinsukia district in the run up to Republic Day, a defence spokesman told PTI.
The Assam Rifles vehicle and three vehicles of tourists returning from the Pangsau festival have been damaged in grenade explosions, the spokesman said.
The entire area has been cordoned off with combing operations stepped up in the area and tourists are stranded along the highway.
The Pangsau Festival is held along the Indo-Myanmar border in the area.
(With PTI inputs)
