Guwahati, Nov 22: In a fresh attack, Ulfa today gunned down 11 Biharis and threw three others into the Brahmaputra with their hands tied in the worst-hit Tinsukia district of Assam while two more deaths were reported elsewhere taking the toll in the nearly week-long violence in the state to 50 as 12 towns were brought under curfew. Union Minister for North East Affairs Dr C P Thakur after a meeting attended by Union Minister of State for Home Swami Chinmayananda and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told newsmen that the violence was `part of a big game` by Bangladesh and Pakistan to destabilise India, but dismissed suggestion of President’s rule in the state.
In probably the worst attack in Tinsukhia district, which alone accounted for 24 deaths, Ulfa militants struck near Mahakali tea estate in Burdobi area around 8:30 am and shot dead eight labourers, official sources said.
The ultras struck again at a distance of five km near Lankesh tea estate killing three labourers and injuring two.
Most of the victims were from Muzaffarpur and Chhapra districts of Bihar.
One person was killed in a group clash in Kakopathar area of Dibrugarh district, the sources said.
Following the attacks in Tinsukia the state government transferred Deputy Commissioner B N Das and suspended superintendent of police I K Gogoi for failing to control the situation, an official spokesman said.
Bureau Report