Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday said that his government was not going to tolerate such senseless killings. He said the government has decided to take the insurgent groups head on by launching a massive military operation against rampaging NDFB rebels of Songbijit faction.
Informing that the Centre was extending all necessary help to the state administration in handling the situation, Mr Gogoi said, “We have already called army for operations. The home ministry was sending 55 companies of paramilitary forces to assist the state.”
“I don’t know what could be the reason for killing innocent, poor tribal women and children, who were living in most isolated remote areas of the state,” the CM said condemning the incident.
Among those killed by NDFB, there are 21 women and 16 children.
One of the survivors said that the militants were armed with sophisticated assault rifles and had come on foot.
“I saw my wife and two sons being shot dead before my eyes,” said Anil Murmu, a 40-year-old survivor from the worst-hit village of Phulbari.
It was not clear why the villagers were targeted, but analyst K.G. Suresh said the attacks could have been carried out to avenge a recent crackdown on militants. He said the tribals were easy targets.
