19 killed in militant attacks in India's NE state of Assam
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
At least 19 people have been killed in attacks by separatist rebels on markets and a bus in India's north-eastern state of Assam, reports BBC.
Police told the BBC that a group of heavily armed guerrillas waylaid the bus and opened fire indiscriminately. Ten passengers died on the spot, scores of others were injured. In another attack on a market in Assam's Dhekiajhuli region, guerrillas killed five people - four male shopkeepers and a woman.
Police say these attacks - and at least three others on non Bodo villages in Assam - were carried out by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
They say that the NDFB appears to be on a "revenge killing spree" after announcing last week that they would kill "at least 20 Indians" to avenge the death of their commander, Mohan Basumatary in a clash last month. The NDFB has been fighting for an independent Bodo homeland which they want carved out of Assam. But they have recently suffered a series of setbacks.
Police told the BBC that a group of heavily armed guerrillas waylaid the bus and opened fire indiscriminately. Ten passengers died on the spot, scores of others were injured. In another attack on a market in Assam's Dhekiajhuli region, guerrillas killed five people - four male shopkeepers and a woman.
Police say these attacks - and at least three others on non Bodo villages in Assam - were carried out by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
They say that the NDFB appears to be on a "revenge killing spree" after announcing last week that they would kill "at least 20 Indians" to avenge the death of their commander, Mohan Basumatary in a clash last month. The NDFB has been fighting for an independent Bodo homeland which they want carved out of Assam. But they have recently suffered a series of setbacks.