Assam on high alert post terror attack in kokrajhar

Guwahati : At least 13 civilians were killed and 18 others injured in a terror attack in Assam’s Kokrajhar district on Friday, officials said.

The incident took place at Balajan market area in the BTAD district where a heavily armed militant group belonging to NDFB(S) had opened indiscriminate firing at the area in which 13 civilians were killed and 18 others including 2 months old baby injured.

Following the militants firing incident police and army had immediately rushed to the area and gunned down a militant.

“Two NDFB(S) terrorists moving in an Autorickshaw opened indiscriminate fire at Balajan Tinali near Kokrajhar town, killing about 13 civilians in the market and injuring 18 others. Police and army troop which was in the vicinity, immediately reacted and cordoned the area. The troops neutralised one of the terrorists on the spot. The swift action by the troops has prevented indiscriminate killings of civilians in the crowded market place. Any delayed action by the Army would have resulted in extremely high casualties amongst the un-armed, innocent civilians,” an army official said.

Security forces had recovered one AK-47 rifle and a hand grenade in possession from the slain militant.

The security forces had launched a massive combing operation, pressing into service specialised troops, tracker dogs and other specialised equipment.

Meanwhile Assam DGP Mukesh Sahai said that, NDFB(S) militants were involved in the terror attack.

Assam police has sounded high alert across the state following the terror attack.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal highly condemned the dastardly attack on innocent people by terrorists at Balajan Tinali in Kokrajhar district.

Terming the indiscriminate firing on innocent people as ‘cowardly and dastardly’, Sonowal warned that the militants would be dealt with very sternly.

“We will not tolerate any threat from any group. The Government will not bow to any pressure while tackling terrorist groups,” Sonowal said.

The Assam CM directed DGP Mukesh Sahay to beef up security and to launch a vigorous drive to apprehend those behind the heinous act.

Sonowal asked the DGP to instil a sense of security among the people and to ensure that peace prevails in Kokrajhar.

The Assam CM asked the DGP to put all the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police across the State on high alert following the incident and in view of the upcoming Independence Day.

Meanwhile, DGP Sahay has rushed to Kokrajhar along with DG Special (law and order) RM Singh to take stock of the situation.

The Assam CM asked Minister for Health & Family Welfare Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma to visit the site of the incident.

Sonowal asked the district administration of Kokrajhar to ensure that the injured persons get proper treatment and to shift the seriously injured to Guwahati Medical College & Hospital for immediate treatment. All the medical expenses will be borne by the State Government.

Meanwhile, a medical team from Guwahati is rushing to Kokrajhar for proper care and treatment of the injured.

Ensuring protection to life and property of the people as first and foremost duty of the Government, the Chief Minister fervently appealed to the people to exercise restraint and to maintain peace and harmony.

The Assam CM said that Prime Minister and Union Home Minister discussed the matter with them and conveyed their deepest condolences to the members of the deceased families.

Sonowal condoling the deaths expressed his sincerest condolences to the members of the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace of the deceased.

He also wished speedy recovery of the injured.

The State Government has announced Rs 5 lakh each as ex-gratia to the next of kin of those killed, Rs 1 lakh to the seriously injured and Rs 20,000 to those who sustained minor injuries.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)