Assam: 13 killed in suspected Bodo militant attack on Kokrajhar market

Posted on August 5, 2016 0 Comments74

Suspected Bodo rebels killed 13 people at a crowded marketplace in Assam’s Kokrajhar district on Friday, police said, potentially throwing
up the first major militancy-related challenge for the new BJP-led government in the northeastern state.

16 people were also injured in the attack by two militants, suspected to be from a breakaway faction of the National Democratic Front of

Bodoland (NDFB), who opened fire indiscriminately at Balajan Tiniali, nearly 220 km west of Guwahati.

One of the militants was shot dead by security forces who responded within minutes to the attack. The other managed to escape in the melee.

“The style of operation also points to NDFB-Songbijit. We have launched counter-operations to nab the militant(s). Situation in the
area is under control,” said Assam director general of police Mukesh Sahay from Kokrajhar.

The incident is the first major militant strike in the state since the BJP government led by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal assumed power in May.

Though most of the militant groups in Assam are in talks with the Centre, the NDFB-S and the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent led by Paresh Barua have repeatedly turned down repeated peace overturesfrom the government.

The NDFB faction involved in Friday’s attack is led by IK Songbijit who split from the parent group in 2012 to carry on the armed rebellion

for an ‘independent Bodoland’, the NDFB’s original goal.

Officials said two women were among the dead which include 6 members of the Bodo community. The condition of two among the injured is stated to be serious.

Television footage showed gun-toting security personnel guiding people out of their shops towards safety and smoke billowing out of a
damaged tin-roofed house where the grenade might have exploded.

One unused grenade was recovered from the area while security forces found an AK- assault rifle on the slain militant.

An abandoned vehicle in which the gunmen reached the spot has also been recovered, police added.

Sarbananda Sonowal, who is in Delhi, denounced the attack and said militants would be dealt with “very sternly”.

He also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the dead, Rs one lakh to the seriously injured and Rs 20,000 to those who sustained minor injuries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too condemned the attack and said the home ministry was in touch with the Assam government.

“Saddened by the attack in Kokrajhar. We strongly condemn it.
Thoughts & prayers with the bereaved families & those injured,” he tweeted.

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