AGARTALA, NOV 12: Militants of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) today gunned down two hostages after a brief encounter with the police in remote Kansaraipara in North Tripura district.

Police said the ultras, while changing their hideout with two boys kidnapped on October 29, had a brief encounter with a patrolling police party in the area.

They shot dead one of the boys on the spot. The other boy sustained injuries and succumbed on his way to hospital, police said.

Army and para military forces have rushed to the spot and launched a combing operation in the nearby area, police said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.