Assam: More violence as toll rises to 65, backlash by Adivasis

Guwahati: Violence escalated in Assam today as the toll in the carnage by NDFB(S) militants rose to 65, mostly women and children, with advivasis retaliating by torching houses and attacking a police station during protests that left three persons dead allegedly in police firing.

31 people were killed in Sonitpu district, 25 inKokrajhar and three in Chirang district after heavily armed militants allegedly belonging to the Songbijit faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) swooped down on remote Adivasi villages of the three districts and killed the inhabitants last evening. Among the dead, 21 were women and 18 children, according to police.

The Centre said it was rushing about 5,000 paramilitary personnel at the request of Assam Government. Decrying the “cowardly” killings, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said it was a terror act and will be dealt accordingly.  Even as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that steps were being taken to prevent the situation from escalating, violent protests by Adivasis erupted against the killings.  Police opened fire as angry protestors turned violent in Dhekiajuli of Sonitpur district, a senior police official said.

The protestors, armed with bow and arrows, were marching towards the police station in Dhekajuli town and despite repeated appeal by police to stop, they marched on and attempted to storm the police station, he said.  Police initially attempted to disperse the protestors by resorting to lathicharge, but opened fire when the situation worsened, the official said.

Three persons were killed and several others injured in police action, he said.

Angry protestors also set ablaze twenty houses allegedly belonging to the people of the Bodo community in Phuloguriin Sonitpur district.

A total of 31 people were killed in two attacks in remote villages of Maitalu Basti under Zinzia police station bordering Arunachal Pradesh, six in Jungle basti under Dhekiajuli police station and two others injured in Sonitpur district, an Assam police spokeperson said.  In Kokrajhar district, 25 people were killed in three villages with Ultapani bordering Bhutan having the highest toll of 12 followed by Lungsung with eight and Pakhriguri with five deaths while four persons were injured.