Assam attack: President Mukherjee calls on State Govt. to ensure guilty brought to justice

President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday condemned the terror attack in Assam's Kokrajhar district in which 13 civilians were killed and called on the State Government and all concerned other agencies to ensure that the guilty are brought to justice and law and order is maintained in state.

"I am extremely sad to learn about the attack by militants in Assam's Kokrajhar district today in which a number of persons have lost their lives and several others are injured," the President said in a message to Assam Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya.

Asserting that such 'senseless acts of terrorism' targeting innocent lives undermine the democratic base of society and deserve to be universally condemned, the President added that they must be met with determination and collective action.

"I call upon the State Government and all concerned other agencies to ensure that the guilty are brought to justice and law and order is maintained in State. I am sure necessary steps are being taken to provide all possible aid to the bereaved families who have lost their near and dear ones as well as medical assistance to the injured," he said.

President Mukherjee also conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and also wished speedy recovery to the injured persons.

Earlier today, 13 civilians were killed and more than 20 e sustained injuries after militant outfits belonging to National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) fired indiscriminately.

The gunbattle ensued when the armed extremists opened fired at a market around 12 kms from Kokhrajar.

This sudden incident of firing on people at a public place in broad daylight is first of its kind in the militancy-ravaged state.