Assam: At least 40 killed in serial Bodo strikes

Guwahati: At least 40 people have been killed in serial attacks by suspected NDFB (Songbijit) terrorists at different places in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts of Assam.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that PM Modi and Rajnath Singh had assured him of every possible help. "While 24 people were killed in Biswanath area in Sonitpur district, six were killed by militants in Dhekiajuli area in the district," he said.

"In another attack in Pakhiriguri area in Kokrajhar district, NDFB militants fired indiscriminately and killed four women and injured four other people," the spokesman said.

Though police have reports of three people being killed, they were yet to receive the bodies "and it is difficult to confirm without recovering the bodies", he said.

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) SN Singh said the NDFB faction opposed to peace talks was behind the incident.

The terrorists attacked the villages as a response to the intensified operation by the security forces, he said.

He said police also have reports of firing by terrorists at a village in Ultapani area.

Bodo terrorists attacked three tribal villages in Kokrajhar and Sonipur districts this evening. These are tribal villages. We have taken up the matter with the Home Ministry at Centre."

"A group of NDFB(S) terrorists with sophisticated arms killed at least five persons and injured six persons in Sonajuli under Biswanath Chariali sub-division in Tinisuti near the Arunachal Pradesh border," Sonitpur Superintendent of Police Sanjukta Parasar said.

The incident site is located very near to the inter-state border, she said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keeping a close watch on the developments. He tweeted, " I spoke to Assam CM Shri Tarun Gogoi & Home Minister Rajnath ji. Rajnath ji will travel to Assam and take stock of the situation."

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, meanwhile, condemned the attack. He said, "I strongly condemn the killing of tribals in Assam by NDFB militants. Killing innocent people for any cause can never be justified. The Centre is monitoring the situation in Assam and the paramilitary forces have been rushed to the spot. Spoke to Assam CM Shri Tarun Gogoi who apprised me of the situation in Kokrajhar & Sonitpur. Centre will provide all assistance to the state."

At least three persons were seriously injured in six serial grenade blasts and firing in Kokrajhar district recently.