On Friday, fourteen (14) persons, including two women, were killed in Kokrajhar district of Assam, India, in broad daylight when militants dressed in Army fatigues opened fire and hurled bombs at a busy weekly market. Though the incident occurred 15 km from Kokrajhar town, an Army patrol van which was nearby when the firing started engaged the terrorists, killing one of them.

The Army said swift action by the troops “prevented indiscriminate killings of civilians in the crowded market place.”

“The incident occurred at Balajan-Tinali market between 11.40 a.m. and 11.45 a.m. In the retaliation, one terrorist was killed,” L.R. Bishnoi, Inspector-General of Police, Bodoland Territorial Area District, told The Hindu .

Eighteen persons were injured, though agencies put the number at 20. Most of the victims were killed on the spot and two died while being taken to hospital.

The Chief Minister told reporters that doctors had informed him that all the injured were out of danger.

Kokrajhar district of Assam attack.

NDFB faction suspected.

Police search backpacks in the Kokrajhar district of Assam, India.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said militant group NDFB(S) had direct involvement in the attack in Kokrajhar district that claimed fourteen lives.

“Direct involvement of NDFB(S) in the Kokrajhar violence has been found following unearthing of vital information,” an official release quoting Sonowal said.

The slain militant was identified as Anjoy Islary alias Monjoy, and he was the self-styled commanding officer of the NDFB(S), senior minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Initial reports said two militants came in an auto rickshaw and opened fire indiscriminately and hurled grenades on the shops.

References The Hindu: 14 killed as Bodo rebels attack market in Kokrajhar, and Zee News: NDFB(S) directly involved in Kokrajhar attack: Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal.

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