Guwahati: At least 11 people were killed and 15 wounded, seven of them critically, in a daring attack by tribal separatists in Assam late Sunday, officials said.
A police spokesperson said heavily armed militants of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) attacked Bhimajuli village in Sonitpur district, about 240 km north of the state`s main city of Guwahati.
"A group of about eight to 10 NDFB militants using automatic weapons opened indiscriminate fire on villagers killing 11 people and injuring at least 15 more," Assam Fishery Minister Nurzamal Sarkar told an agency.
Sarkar, who represents the area in the state assembly, rushed to the civil hospital at Biswanath Chariali where the injured were being treated.
"The militants first entered a house and opened random fire and then started killing people on the road who came in their way," the minister said.
"Six to seven people are stated to be in a critical condition."
Four women and as many children were among those killed.
"The NDFB probably attacked the village after the locals there refused to pay extortion money. The militants had served extorion demands to locals in the area," the minister said.
Army soldiers and police commandos launched a massive hunt in the area to nab the NDFB rebels.
"We were told there is an encounter (gunfight) on between the security forces and the militants, although we are yet to get details," the minister said.
The NDFB is a rebel group fighting for an independent homeland for the Bodo tribe in Assam.
A faction of the NDFB is operating a ceasefire with New Delhi, although another group led by guerrilla leader D.R. Nabla is still underground.
The NDFB is blamed for the Oct 30 serial blasts in Assam that killed about 100 people.
More than 10,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Assam during the past two decades.
IANS
