Guwahati :  The police and the army in a joint operation in Assam s Goalpara district have gunned down two hardcore ULFA militants and also recovered arms, including one AK-56 rifle from them, officials said Monday.

Two slain United Liberation Front of Asom cadres - Raghu Rai and Ratul Rabha - were killed during a shootout at Rongjuli area in the district.

The operation was conducted by the Guwahati police in association with the army deployed in the district.

Police said that two pistols, two grenades, one AK-56 rifle, magazines and some live ammunition were also recovered from the place where the shootout took place. "Acting on a tip off, a joint team of Guwahati Police and the army launched an operation in the area.

After a fierce gun battle, two militants were killed on the spot while the third one could manage to escape with bullet injuries," said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Guwahati Anand Prakash Tiwari. Search operation is on to nab the injured cadre, he said.

The militants were suspected to have been involved in the IED blast in Goalpra district on July 31 that killed one army personnel and injured six others.