AGARTALA: Separatist guerrillas ambushed and shot 15 Indian soldiers in a remote part of Tripura on Dec. 28, police said.

Militants belonging to the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) surprised a three-vehicle convoy of the Indian Army near Dangabari village, 50 miles south of this state capital. The soldiers were escorting a group of laborers at that time.

The rebels, who were hiding in hills on both sides of the narrow road, first lobbed a grenade and thend fire from automatic weapons, killing 13 soldiers instantly. Two others who were injured died on their way to hospital.

Four other soldiers were seriously injured and admitted to a hospital. The attackers decamped with 12 AK-47 rifles.