Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has condemned the killings and directed the authorities to provide medical aid to the injured.
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No claims have been made but about three days ago, police arrested members of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDBF), a local armed group, in the same area. “We have to ascertain that who are exactly the people behind this dastardly act, it is very unfortunate so many people lost their lives”. “MHA is closely monitoring the situation”, said Singh. One of the militants was also killed, with police recovering one AK-56 rifle from his possession.
Ripun Bora, Vice President, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, said on Twitter: “Attack in the middle of the Kokrajhar town of Assam – It’s a failure of the Govt.in maintaining law and order”. “They expressed their condolences”, said Sonowal.
The Assam CM announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to the injured.
The area has been cordoned off by police and Army forces as they launched operations to look for militants hiding in nearby buildings.
Assam Police chief Mukesh Sahay told IANS that security forces shot dead one of the attackers.
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One extremist was killed in the encounter with the security personnel, ANI reported. “We have started an operation in and around the area”.
