The killings, which took place in Dibrugarh on the night of August 27-28, was reported as one of the ongoing series of incidents due to the flare-up between ULFA and men of the surrendered ULFA (SULFA) which in the past three weeks has taken the lives of kin of top ULFA leaders.

A group of ten former top militants who had surrendered in 1992, shot off a fax message to the President of India, the Chief of Army, state chief minister among others of the top brass yesterday accusing Major Jamir Khan of the 11 Jat regiment as the culprit who had personally gunned down the three surrendered ULFA (SULFA) men.

The ex-ultras alleged that Major Khan flew into a rage following reports that the GOC of the 4 Corps had received certain complaints about cash recovered from counter-insurgency at Jerai village two days ago had been siphoned off; the Major took the position that the baseless details in the letter is responsible for the whole controversy. Jamir Khan, it now appears, arrived at the residence of one of the former militants, one Rituraj Gogoi, called some others of the latter's like to the place, snatched an AK-47 rifle from one of the jawans accompanying him and mowed down three of the surrendered militants.

The killing apparently took place in the presence of several other SULFA members, as also some Army jawans. Gogoi's house, where the incident is supposed to have taken place, is situated close to the Chowkidingi police station in the heart of Dibrugarh. The bodies were taken to Lahoal, about eight kms from the spot, and abandoned in a Maruti van by the roadside.The major incidentally had earlier taken the help of some former ULFA members to track down four ULFA militants to Jerai on August 26.

The other aspect that has serious implications is the allegation that while the Army had, during the operation in Jerai recovered several crores of rupees, the sum handed over to the authorities was much less.

While the Army initially refused to deny or confirm the allegation that Major Khan was involved in the murder of three former militants, Major General Ashok Chaki, GOC of the 2 mountain division in a press release is stated to have prima facie found that the Major ``appeared to be involved''. This incident involving officials could serve to worsen the controversy that the Army finds itself in in its counter-insurgency operations, especially as it comes on the heels of reports that it denied medical aid to a victim of the bomb blast which occurred in the Guwahati railway station on August 24.