Sushanta Talukdar
GUWAHATI: Suspected militants of the outlawed Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) shot dead 14 more Hindi-speaking persons, including eight minors, in Dolamara village of central Assam’s Karbi Anglong district late on Friday night. A three-month-old baby was one of the victims.
Toll up
With this massacre, the toll of Hindi-speaking persons killed in militant attacks in the hill district since Wednesday has gone up to 22.
Deputy-Inspector General of Police (Central Range) L.R. Bishnoi told The Hindu that the police on Saturday began clubbing isolated pockets of Hindi-speaking people for giving them effective security cover. The DIG said that there were about 75,000 Hindi-speaking people in the district.
The security forces under the unified command structure launched a hunt for the militants.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi flew in to Ampathar village where suspected militants gunned down eight Hindi-speaking persons on Wednesday night and met the family members of the victims. He also reviewed the law and order situation at a high-level meeting in Diphu and said he was in touch with the Army for possible deployment in the vulnerable areas.
He directed the administration and security forces to tone up counter-insurgency operations to nab the attackers behind the massacres.
Ex gratia for next of kin
Mr. Gogoi also announced an ex gratia of Rs. 3 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased and an additional amount of Rs. 1,000 from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and assured Hindi-speaking people of all possible steps by the government for their protection.
“Act of cowardice”
He described the attacks on poor innocent civilians as an “act of cowardice and savagery” and urged all sections to unitedly fight such acts of terrorism.
Eye witnesses said the militants in battle fatigue split into smaller groups and started indiscriminate fire at Dolamara.
