Indian troops kill 12 guerrillas in wildlife park
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-09-15 14:49

Indian soldiers have gunned down 12 ethnic guerrillas in a state-owned wildlife sanctuary of the northeastern state of Assam, the rebel group said in a statement.

"The killings took place between Monday and Tuesday in the Dibru Saikhowa National Park," United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) separatist group chief Aurobinda Rajkhowa said in the statement sent to local newspapers.

The Indian army, which has thousands of troops in the restive state, declined to offer any comment.

Rajkhowa said 12 members of his outlawed group were killed and a ULFA commander injured in the crackdown in the forests of Dibru Saikhowa, 515 kilometres (319 miles) east of Assam's main city of Guwahati.

ULFA last week offered peace talks with the Indian government.

"The fresh offensive has exposed the Indian government's sincerity in taking the peace process forward," the group's commander said in the statement on Wednesday.

The ULFA is one of the frontline rebel armies in the northeast fighting for an independent homeland in Assam since 1979.

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