NDFB spokesperson B Sadbangso said that Mahesh Basumatary, who the police claimed was an NDFB militant and was killed during an encounter in Sonitpur on Monday, was an innocent Bodo tribal civilian. "We took revenge for his death. We warn of more violent attacks if security forces continue their offensive against us," Sadbangso told a local television channel.
On November 1, self-styled NDFB lieutenant B Jwngkhang had threatened to kill 20 or more people for every Bodo or NDFB cadre killed in "fake encounters" by security forces.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi condemned the violence and said that the Assam government would not be cowed down. "We are not going to be cowed down by terror. The army, police and paramilitary forces have already launched massive operations in NDFB strongholds. The government will tackle militancy strongly," he told the state assembly.
"We condemn such violence. Inhuman killing of innocent people will never be tolerated. The government has taken steps to prevent such incidents," he added.
The Assam CM said, "The NDFB rebels are responsible for the killings and we will not tolerate it. Whoever breaks the law will not be tolerated. We have come forward for peace talks with militant outfits. We have told Ranjan Daimary (NDFB chairman) and Paresh Baruah (United Liberation Front of Asom commander-in-chief) to come for talks, but they have to abjure violence. The road is open for all. The people are not with them. To control insurgency we will need the cooperation of all."
The Assam government has, meanwhile, sounded a red alert across the state with law and order tightened in four violence-hit Bodoland Territorial Council districts of Baksa, Udalguri, Kokrajhar and Chirang. The government has also intensified security measures in Sonitpur district, which bore the brunt of the violence. People in Sonitpur district came out on the streets protesting the killings and also blocked the National Highway 52 at Jamugurihat Chupia for some time.
