Sonowal, who also holds the home portfolio, said NDFB (S) was directly involved in the Kokrajhar violence with the police getting vital information and contact numbers from the slain terrorist. The locals said that while the security forces have been able to corner the NDFB(S) militants in the past two years, the security in and around Kokrajhar town were relaxed.
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Police blamed the attacks on suspected rebels from a faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
At least 10,000 people, majority civilians, have been killed in Assam state alone in the last three decades.
Addressing the mediapersons, Sonowal said, he had a word with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh in regard with the attack.
Police said the group of militants came in a auto and swooped down on Balajan Tiniali market this afternoon. The others escaped, forcing security forces to launch a major operation to hunt them down.
One of the miltants was killed by security forces during the exchange of fire in the incident site.
Unidentified attackers fired indiscriminately and threw hand grenades at the crowded weekly market in Kokrajhar – a town 220 km west of the state’s commercial capital, Guwahati – eyewitnesses said.
The Chief Minister announced ex-gratia amount of Rs. 5 lakh next of kin to deceased, one lakh rupees to those seriously injured and free treatment to other injured. “We suspect the number of attackers was four or five”, Assam Police chief Mukesh Sahay said. “Our government will take action against those responsible”, Sonowal said.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju condemned the attack, describing it as “very dastardly and unfortunate”.
He also directed Finance, Education and Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to rush to the spot and review the situation.
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Meanwhile, opposition Congress leaders, who visited Kokrajhar Saturday, accused the ruling BJP government in the state of failing to take preventive measures despite the fact that militants regularly indulge in violent activities in the run up to Independence and Republic Days.
