Karbi hills tense after massacre, toll eight

Guwahati, Aug 9 (UNI) Tension ran high in Karbi Anglong district of central Assam after suspected KLNLF and ULFA militants massacred eight Hindi-speaking people in a renewed attack on the community last night.

Karbi Anglong SP Anurag Tankha said about eight to ten ULFA and KLNLF cadres barged into the Ampahar basti in Bokolia under Bokoliahat police station at around 1945 hours.

They broke into two houses belonging to people of Hindi-speaking community and fired indiscriminately killing eight of them on the spot.

Among the dead were four women and three children, including an infant.

Three people were seriously injured and were rushed to a nearby hospital.

A few hours later, an encounter took place between police and KLNLF militants at Dokmoka near Horaghat area, however, there was no casualty and the militants managed to escape.

The incident took place amid an ongoing 100-hour Karbi Anglong bandh called by the KLNLF in support of their various demands.

Having close links with the ULFA, the KLNLF shot dead a woman trader a day before at Howraghat.

Meanwhile, the student organisations of the Hindi-speaking community have called an indefinite Karbi Anglong HH 36 blockade from tomorrow demanding visit by the Chief Minister and Governor to the affected places.

The district administration has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 5,000 to each victim.

The victims were being cremated publicly in the presence of senior ministers of the autonomous council.

Meanwhile, in the neighbouring North Cachar Hills district, suspected militants of the DHD (Jewel faction) opened fire at the Haflong designated of the DHD (Nunisa faction). The fire was returned and the gunfight lasted for about half an hour.

UNI