CPI(M) condemns attack on civilians in Assam

CPI(M) today strongly condemned the attacks by militants in Assam's Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts and said all democratic forces should unitedly counter such reactionary "ethnic chauvinism".
Calling for firm action from the state as well as central Government to curb and dismantle the NDFB extremist group, the Polit Bureau of the party said that steps should be taken to provide adequate compensation to the families of those killed and rehabilitation measures.
"The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the killings perpetrated by the gangs belonging to an extremist Bodo organisation," the party said in a statement.
Even as the death toll in the carnage mounted to 65 in the four attacks by NDFB(S) militants in Assam's Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts, angry Adivasi villagers today retaliated by setting ablaze houses of Bodos and took out protest marches.

"All democratic forces should unitedly counter such reactionary ethnic chauvinism," the party said.
The party said that adivasis including women and children were shot dead in five places in the jurisdiction of the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD) in Assam.

The party said that these brutal killings are part of the extremists' drive for "ethnic cleansing" in the BTAD area in Assam. In 2012, there was a massive attack against Bengali-speaking Muslims and before that in 2000 adivasis were targeted as well, the party said.
"Firm action should taken to curb and dismantle the NDFB extremist group. It is the responsibility of the Assam government and the Centre to ensure the safety and protection of the non-Bodo communities in the BTAD area.

"All steps should be taken for the medical treatment of the injured, adequate compensation to the families of those killed and rehabilitation measures," the party said in a statement.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the majority of victims in the "barbaric" attacks were women and children and steps were being taken to ensure that the situation does not escalate.
The Centre said it was rushing in 5000 paramilitary personnel at the request of Assam government.