Assam: Suspected ULFA terrorist claims 5 lives in Tinsukia district

At least five people were killed on Thursday by suspected United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) terrorists in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district. All the suspected terrorist belonged to ULFA’s Pradesh Baruah faction — the ULFA-independent.

According to a media report, a group of armed men asked the victims to line up and then fired at them from a close distance. Assam police Cheif Kuladhar Saikia had to rush to the spot which is located almost 500 km from state capital Guwahati.

The victims identified as Shyamlal Biswas, Ananta Biswas, Abhinash Biswas, Subal Biswas and Dhananjay Namsudra, all Bengalis, the police said.

On Thursday, the investigation agency NIA have arrested eight persons who are said to have linked with the terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen. The arrested eight persons are Sehnewaj Alom (39), Saidul Alom, Umar Farukh (35), Riyaj Uddin (50), Md Jainal Ahmed (55), Md Baharul Islam (23) Saiful Islam and Abhimanyu Chauhan.

The Army has launched a massive counter-insurgency operation along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The Assam Rifles is keeping a vigil on the porous Indo-Myanmar border.

Immediately after the incident, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal asked State Ministers Keshav Mahanta and Topon Kumar Gogoi to rush to the incident site and take stock of the situation. Assam Director General of Police Kuladhar Saikia and Additional Director General of Police Mukesh Agarwalla were also sent to the spot, an official statement read.

In the wake of this massive operation, many Bengali organisations have called for a 12-hour bandh in Tinsukia district on Friday to protests the killings. West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee is likely to take out rallies in different parts of the state.

Rajnath Singh — Union Home Minister has also condemned the terror attack on Twitter and wrote. “Deeply anguished by civilian casualties in an attack in Upper Assam region. It is a reprehensible act of mindless violence. Spoke to Assam CM Shri @sarbanandsonwal regarding the incident and asked him to take strict possible action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”

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