Making a mockery of the tall talks of the improved law and order situation by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)militants on Tuesday killed at least 34 people, including women, while 10 others were left injured in five different attacks in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts of the State.
All those killed in Sonitpur attack were stated to be adivasis, said Superintendent of Police Sanjukta Parasar. A spokesperson of the Assam Police said 30 tribals were gunned down in Sonitpur district alone, while four were killed in Kokrajhar.
Three more persons were believed to have been killed in Kokrajhar but police were yet to recover the bodies from the remote place, while three more are suspected to have been killed at the interior place of Ultapani, he said.
The attacks came days after the militant outfit had threatened to avenge the death of some of the militants who were killed during the anti-insurgency operations across the State. Meanwhile, additional paramilitary personnel have been rushed by Union Home Ministry to Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and offered him all assistance to deal with the situation arising out of the massacre. While Manas National Park — a popular tourist spot inhabited mainly by tribals — has been closed for three days following the massacre.
Notably, the NDFB faction had on Monday triggered a grenade blast at Patgaon area in Kokrajhar district injuring three persons. “We suspect the hands of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB militants behind the incident. They might have attacked the civilians to avenge the police and security forces operations against them, where some of their cadres have been killed,” IGP (law and Order) SN Singh said.
The SSB, who guards the Indo-Bhutan border, has also sought the cooperation of Royal Bhutan Army in flushing out the Indian militants, who often take shelter in the neighbouring country after committing violence and subversive activities.