At least 13 people were killed and 15 got injured on Friday when suspected militants opened fire at a busy market in Kokrajhar town in Assam, police said.
Police said a group of militants swooped down on Balajan Tinali market this afternoon and opened fire in the marketplace.
The militants came in an auto and opened fire in the busy market area. A large number of people had gathered at the weekly market. Kokrajhar is the capital town of Bodoland. The NIA Guwahati is likely to send a team soon. Combing operations are now underway. This is the first major terror attack since the BJP came to power in Assam.
AK-47 rifles were recovered from the place.
Rajnath Singh said that the Home Ministry is closely monitoring the situation and the Centre has assured all possible help.
The militants first lobbed around three grenades and then fired at the crowd.
The area has been cordoned off by police and army security personnel and operations have been launched as the militants are suspected to be hiding in nearby buildings.
Our government will take stern action against these extremist outfits, said Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal.
Assam Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay said, “There has been an incident of firing. The security forces have reacted to it and one suspected militant as been reportedly neutralised. We have launched an intensive operation.”
The attackers are believed to be part of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, a Christian separatist group that has been classified as a terror group by India, according to P K Bhagwati, deputy police commander.
“This attack is intended to destabilise peace in Assam,” said Himanta Biswa Sarma, the state’s finance and health minister. There was no claim of responsibility for the attack.
business-standard.com
