Guwahati: Violence escalated in Assam on Wednesday as the toll in the carnage by NDFB(S) militants rose to 72, mostly women and children, with advivasis retaliating by torching houses and attacking a police station during protests that left three persons dead allegedly in police firing.
Atleast 37 people were killed in Sonitpu district, 25 in Kokrajhar and three in Chirang district after heavily armed militants allegedly belonging to the Songbijit faction of
The Centre said it was rushing about 5,000 paramilitary personnel at the request of Assam Government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over loss of lives and sanctioned ex-gratia relief of Rs two lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to each of the seriously injured.
An amount of Rs 86 lakh is being released to the state government from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), a PMO statement said.
Even as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that steps were being taken to prevent the situation from escalating, violent protests by Adivasis erupted against the killings.
Police opened fire as angry protestors turned violent in Dhekiajuli of Sonitpur district, a senior police official said.
The protestors, armed with bow and arrows, were marching towards the police station in Dhekajuli town and despite repeated appeal by police to stop, they marched on and attempted to storm the police station, he said.
