Hardcore ULFA leader Amrit Dutta, carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head for the kidnap and killing of NGO activist Sanjoy Ghosh, was killed in an encounter with the police and CRPF at Majuli in Assam on Saturday. Police sources said the ULFA leader was killed in the encounter at Katonihati Jurbil under the Jengraimukh police station in the world’s largest river island at around 7 pm.A joint team of the police and CRPF received a tip-off that Dutta and two other militants had taken shelter in a house in the area. The police surrounded it and asked the militants to surrender. The militants opened fire on the security personnel who retaliated, killing Dutta. The other two managed to escape.Ghosh, who headed the NGO AVARD-NE, was kidnapped by ULFA in July 1997 from Bongaon area of Majuli and was subsequently killed, though his body was never recovered. According to intelligence reports, Dutta was based in Majuli and was involved in extortion and recruitment for the outfit.
