Won't spare perpetrators of Kokrajhar killing, warns Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal on Sunday warned that his government would take stern action against perpetrators of the August 5 killing that claimed lives of at least 14 people, including one militant, and left over 20 injured at Balajan Tiniali market of Kokrajhar district.

"We will take stern action against those extremists who committed this particular killing and will not spare anyone. We will fight them out together, because our government's policy is clear, there is 'zero tolerance' against terrorism," Sonowal told reporters after the meeting.

The chief minister chaired a high-level meeting attended by top officers of the state and district administration, Assam Police, army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and intelligence agencies at the Circuit House in Kokrajhar to review the situation and chalk out strategy to keep a check on militants' activities in view of Independence Day celebrations across the state.

Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Sahay, however, told reporters: "We will follow in letter and spirit, the directions given by the chief minister so that such incidents don't occur again and will deal sternly with those who are responsible for the incident.