NDFB(S) violence spreads to new areas in Assam, toll reaches 65

The violence unleashed by National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) or NDFB(S) militants in Assam spread to new areas with one person injured in Udalguri district, where rebels fired at villagers and burnt houses.

"Suspected NDFB(S) militants opened fire and burnt some houses in Lamabari under Mazbat police station. A police team reached the spot and fired at the militants, who fled from the scene," Udalguri Superintendent of Police Bir Bikram Gogoi told PTI.

One adivasi person was injured in the firing and he was shifted to Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, he added.

Following the attack, angry adivasis set ablaze about 60 huts in Lamabari and the Udalguri weekly market, police said, adding none was injured as the people had fled.

Rebels have killed 65 tribals and injured 16 in the serial attacks in the four lower Assam districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Sonitpur and Udalguri districts since Tuesday night.

The situation worsened with some adivasis resorting to violence and setting ablaze dozens of houses allegedly belonging to Bodos in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar forcing the police to open fire on protesters in which three more people were killed. Around 2,500 people have fled their homes and are staying in relief camps after the attacks.

Curfew has been clamped in all the disturbed areas under Sonitpur, Chirang and Kokrajhar districts, police said.