At least 14 have been killed and fifteen are injured after militants opened fire at a busy market area in India’s restive northeastern state of Assam, in an attack blamed by the authorities on a regional separatist group.
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Minutes before they gunned down 13 people and injured almost 20 at the village market in Assam’s Kokrajhar on Friday, at least one suspected NDFB (S) terrorist was caught on camera walking causally in the market.
Sahay said police had recovered an AK-47 rifle and explosives from the dead gunman, as well as a three-wheeler van the assailants had arrived in.
The militants also lobbed grenades and started firing indiscriminately at the security forces and the public.
“We suspect them (NDFB-Songbijit) behind the attack whose victims were mainly Bodo civilians”, said Assam police chief Mukesh Sahay.
The army has launched a massive combing operation, pressing into service specialised troops, tracker dogs and other specialised equipment in the area.
Disrupting the 19-month calm, in an audacious attack 3-4 militants entered the Balijan Tanali market in Kokrajhar and opened fire, killing 13 people.
“This incident has given us a shock and it is unfortunate so many people have lost their lives”, he said, adding that the elements behind the “dastardly” attack would have to be identified.
“Saddened by the attack in Kokrajhar”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. He said the security forces would deal strictly with the situation.
“We will not tolerate any threat from any group”, he said. Officials said additional paramilitary forces were being rushed to Assam.
Rajnath Singh tweeted that he spoke to Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and he apprised him of the situation in Kokrajhar.
Sonowal also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of those who were killed and Rs 1 lakh to those injured and Rs 20,000 to those who sustained minor injuries in the incident.
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“With the joint efforts of state and central government, peace had prevailed there”, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju told reporters in New Delhi.
