Rebels kill dozens in India’s Assam State India has imposed a curfew in parts of the northeastern state of Assam after suspected tribal guerrillas killed at least 50 people in a series of attacks in retaliation for an offensive against them. Assam has a history of sectarian bloodshed and groups fighting for greater autonomy or secession from India. Tuesday’s attacks in four places by fighters of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland within the space of an hour were the deadliest in months. Indian security forces launched a campaign last month against the rebels in their remote hideouts, prompting a threat from them to target settlers. Reports said the attackers opened indiscriminate fire at Saralpara village in Kokrajhar district and in Santipur village of Sonitpur district. The attacks came after a joint team of Assam Police and the Indian army killed two Bodo fighters in the neighbouring Chiran district on Sunday. Villagers told police the rebels came on foot, armed with assault rifles and wearing military uniforms. “They didn’t even spare women and children,” said a police officer, adding there were at least 10 women among the dead in Tuesday’s violence. At least 13 children were killed. “There is a curfew imposed by the police in a number of districts of Assam,” Al Jazeera’s Karishma Vyas, reporting from New Delhi, said. “Police believe that this attack was planned. The gunmen reportedly fired indiscriminately on these villages that are largely populated by people know as the Adivasis.”
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 09:20:22 +0000
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