Making a suo motu statement in lok Sabha against the backdrop of killing of 14 people by militants in Kokrajhar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the Centre has urged the Assam Government to hunt down those involved in the attack and bring them to justice. “I have taken up with the Assam Government and the security forces in the State to track down the militants involved in this attack, so that they are brought to justice for this crime against humanity,” he said during Zero Hour.
Giving details of the August 5 incident, the Minister said there was a militant attack at a crowded weekly market at Balajan Tiniali in Kokrajhar district of Assam.
Quoting available information, he said around 11.30 AM, the militants, reportedly wearing armylike fatigues, set ablaze some houses and shops which led to a cylinder blast and fire in the area. This was followed by indiscriminate firing on the crowd of shoppers by the militants.
“14 innocent persons—8 Bodo men, one woman, one child and four others lost their lives in the attack. 19 persons were seriously injured who are under treatment in various hospitals of the district and the state capital," he said.
Singh said the State police and security forces reacted swiftly and neutralised one militant whose identity is yet to be established. From the slain militant one AK 56 rifle, two magazines of live ammunition and one grenade were recovered.
“The exact number of militants and the militant group involved in the attack is being investigated,” the Home Minister said, adding the state government has made satisfactory arrangements for the treatment of those injured in the attack.
Exgratia relief of `5 lakh has been provided to the next of kin of those killed, Rs 1 lakh to those seriously injured and `20,000 to those with simple injuries. A criminal case has been registered at Kokrajhar Police Station to investigate the militant attack.