NIA team in Kokrajhar, massive combing operation on

Kokrajhar (Assam), Aug 6: An NIA team today scoured the site and spoke to eyewitnesses of yesterday's terror attack here in which 14 people were killed while a massive combing operation was on to nab the militants of Bodo separatist outfit NDFB(S) suspected to be involved in the strike.

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who visited the attack site, told reporters that the militant who was neutralised yesterday has been identified as Manjay Islari.

"He is a self-styled area commander of 16th battalion of NDFB(S) faction. We will give the body to his parents," he said. He said that combing operation in the area has been intensified to nab those who fled after carrying out the attack on Balajan Tiniali market, about 12 km from here, just days before Independence Day.

To a question, he said that the militants were not part of any suicide squad. "If they were part of a suicide squad they would not have fled." An NIA team has reached the spot and was speaking to eyewitnesses, officials said.

Combing operation by police, para-military and army is also on in neighbouring Chirang district to nab militants.

Defence sources said specialised troops, tracker dogs and other equipment have been pressed into service. The Army was also carrying out extensive area domination operations in the district to ensure swift actions, they said.

The situation was described as tense but under control by police. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited the seriously injured at Gauhati Medical College Hospital and inquired about their condition.

He spoke to doctors there on providing them advance medical treatment, government sources in Guwahati said.

Kokrajhar deputy commissioner held a high level security meeting with police, army and paramilitary forces to review the situation ahead of Independence Day, administration sources said.

PTI