Forces kill 11 militants in Assam

Guwahati: Security forces killed at least 11 tribal militants in a fierce gun battle on Saturday in the country's restive northeast, a police officer said.

The fighting took place in a mountainous region of the northeastern state of Assam, where 30 armed militants were intercepted by security forces during a patrol, said the officer, who did not wish to be named.

"Eleven of them were killed and several others injured," he said.

Police suspect the dead rebels to be members of a breakaway group of the little known Dima Halam Daogah group, fighting for regional autonomy in the region, police said.