Diphu (Assam), Nov 06: In a retaliatory action, Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) militants attacked four villages in a remote area of Assam's Karbi Anglong district abducting 20 people and setting on fire 12 houses, a senior official said today. Deputy Commissioner Anurag Goel said after his return from the inaccessible Singhasan Hills, where the site of the attack Thekerajan is situated, that a group of about 30 armed KRA militants dressed in 'military uniforms' stormed four villages on November 2 night and kidnapped 28 villagers but later released 20 of them.
Eight villagers are still missing, he said adding the militants also burnt 12 houses in three villages and severely assaulted several villagers and decamped with their cattle and poultry.
The matter came to light only yesterday as terrified villagers did not report the matter immediately to the police, who rushed to the area, about 250 km from Diphu on receipt of the news.
The four villages which bore the brunt of the KRA attack are Bathlosarthekeupgaon, Denja Terong Gaon, Kangpur Rohang Gaon and Mensing Timung village and are dominated by Karbi tribals.
The KRA attack is being viewed as a sequel to a threat issued by the outfit on October 20 that it would launch "operation volcano" if several Kukis kidnapped by united peoples democratic solidarity militants, active in Karbi Anglong and n Cachar Hills districts, were not released by October 30.
Goel said Assam Police commandos led by police super Abdul Quddus have launched a massive combing operation in the area to flush out the militants.
Besides, security has been tightened throughout the district to prevent any backlash as high tension prevails in the area.
A relief camp has also been set up at Longlit where 110 Karbis have taken shelter, he added.
Meanwhile, CPI(ML) and Autonomous State Demand Committee-Progressive (ASDC-P) have called a 10-hour Karbi Anglong bandh on November 10 in protest the "failure" of Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government in the state to provide security to Karbis from Kuki militants. Bureau Report