GUWAHATI/KOKRAJHAR, Oct 5: The Army was called out in violence-hit Sonitpur district on Monday after the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) attacked a village and gunned down 12 people, officials said.
Twelve people were massacred and 13 wounded when heavily armed NDFB militants attacked village Bhimajuli in Sonitpur district.
Four women and five children were among those killed when the group of about eight to 10 militants used automatic weapons and opened indiscriminate fire on villagers. Ten people were killed on the spot and two of the 15 injured died at the hospital on Monday.
On Monday, angry villagers armed with bows and arrows, machetes and spears, roamed the area threatening to attack homes of tribal Bodos.
An Asom Government spokesperson said Army soldiers were deployed to assist police and civil authorities to quell the backlash by violent mobs. “The situation is tense and hence we decided to take the help of the Army in restoring peace and calm in the area,” Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Health Minister and Government spokesperson, told IANS.
Sarma and three more ministers are camping in the violence-hit area to prevent any backlash by locals.
“Inordinate delay by the police to reach the site of the massacre led to a number of people succumbing to their injuries. The militants were at our village for close to an hour and despite the police being informed of the attack, they failed to arrive in time,” Subhas Chetri, one of the first to have informed the police, said.
Chetri suffered bullet injuries in his legs.
“The NDFB probably attacked the village after the locals refused to pay extortion money. The militants had served extortion demands to many locals in the area,” Asom Fisheries Minister Nurzamal Sarkar said.
Sarkar represents the area in the Assembly.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi condemned the incident and said the perpetrators of the killing would be dealt with firmly. He said ex gratia of Rs 3 lakh for each killed and Rs 50,000 for each injured would be paid by the State Government.
AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said AGP MLA Padma Hazarika had all along been telling the State Assembly that a parallel government was being run in the North Bank, but the State Government did not pay any heed to the matter. He said Hazarika and AGP MP Joseph Toppo are visiting the spot.
Various organizations and parties like including the BPF, BPPF, ABSU have condemned the gruesome attack by suspected anti-talks faction of National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants at Balisang area under Biswanath Chariali police station in Sonitpur district yesterday evening.
BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary, condemning the incident, appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony. He said it is the work of militants group and not any particular community. He said the entire Bodo community is not responsible for the act committed by the NDFB. He said the State Government should monitor extortion by the NDFB.
The ABSU general secretary Jiron Basumatary expresses concern over the incident and appealed to the Government to take strong measures to tackle the situation and provide adequate security.
BPPF president Rabiram Narzary also condemned the incident. THE SENTINEL
Twelve people were massacred and 13 wounded when heavily armed NDFB militants attacked village Bhimajuli in Sonitpur district.
Four women and five children were among those killed when the group of about eight to 10 militants used automatic weapons and opened indiscriminate fire on villagers. Ten people were killed on the spot and two of the 15 injured died at the hospital on Monday.
On Monday, angry villagers armed with bows and arrows, machetes and spears, roamed the area threatening to attack homes of tribal Bodos.
An Asom Government spokesperson said Army soldiers were deployed to assist police and civil authorities to quell the backlash by violent mobs. “The situation is tense and hence we decided to take the help of the Army in restoring peace and calm in the area,” Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Health Minister and Government spokesperson, told IANS.
Sarma and three more ministers are camping in the violence-hit area to prevent any backlash by locals.
“Inordinate delay by the police to reach the site of the massacre led to a number of people succumbing to their injuries. The militants were at our village for close to an hour and despite the police being informed of the attack, they failed to arrive in time,” Subhas Chetri, one of the first to have informed the police, said.
Chetri suffered bullet injuries in his legs.
“The NDFB probably attacked the village after the locals refused to pay extortion money. The militants had served extortion demands to many locals in the area,” Asom Fisheries Minister Nurzamal Sarkar said.
Sarkar represents the area in the Assembly.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi condemned the incident and said the perpetrators of the killing would be dealt with firmly. He said ex gratia of Rs 3 lakh for each killed and Rs 50,000 for each injured would be paid by the State Government.
AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said AGP MLA Padma Hazarika had all along been telling the State Assembly that a parallel government was being run in the North Bank, but the State Government did not pay any heed to the matter. He said Hazarika and AGP MP Joseph Toppo are visiting the spot.
Various organizations and parties like including the BPF, BPPF, ABSU have condemned the gruesome attack by suspected anti-talks faction of National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants at Balisang area under Biswanath Chariali police station in Sonitpur district yesterday evening.
BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary, condemning the incident, appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony. He said it is the work of militants group and not any particular community. He said the entire Bodo community is not responsible for the act committed by the NDFB. He said the State Government should monitor extortion by the NDFB.
The ABSU general secretary Jiron Basumatary expresses concern over the incident and appealed to the Government to take strong measures to tackle the situation and provide adequate security.
BPPF president Rabiram Narzary also condemned the incident. THE SENTINEL
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