31 killed in ULFA shoot-outs in Asom

Guwahati, Jan 6 (UNI) The banned ULFA went on a killing spree targeting Hindi-Speaking people in Upper Asom since last night with 21 confirmed killed and reports that 10 more were gunned down in Sadiya.

''13 people were killed in Tinsukia district and eight in Dibrugarh,'' Health Minister and government spokesperson Himanta Biswa Sharma confirmed today.

Quoting the local MLA, Mr Sharma informed that at least 10 people were also killed in Sadiya in a late night shoot-out.

''However, official confirmation from the district is awaited,'' he added. Unconfirmed reports though put the Sadiya toll at 12.

Several more were injured and the toll was likely to increase.

The targeted people were mostly Hindi-speaking. The state government had requested the Centre to beef up security in trains running to and from Asom so that passengers from the state were not targeted elsewhere.

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UNI