Assam killings LATEST updates: Even as ULFA (I) claimed that they were not behind the killing of five people in Assam, preliminary police investigation shows that ULFA was behind the shooting. Police sources have told Firstpost that the department felt that ULFA has denied responsibility of the killing in fear of losing popular support. ULFA leader Mrinal Hazarika was arrested by the Panbazar Police, over suspicions that he might be involved in the incident in Tinsukia. Earlier, he gave a controversial statement, threatening to bring back the 1983 Assam riots and killing Bengali-speaking people. Former ULFA leader Jiten Dutta detained by Gaurisagar police in connection with yesterday’s killings. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee wondered if the attack was a reaction to the National Register of Citizens in Assam. She wrote in a tweet, “Terrible news coming out of Assam. We strongly condemn the brutal attack in Tinsukia… Is this the outcome of recent NRC development.” Reacting to the Tinsukia shootings, leader of Hindu Karnti Dal Mithun Debnath said, “ULFA (I) has let down the whole of Assam through this barbaric act. These cowards didn’t have the guts to kill Bangladeshi people. The people whom they killed are the indigenous Hindu-Bengali speaking people of Assam. We condemn the barbaric act.” ULFA (I), in a press statement, claimed that they were not responsible for the killings in Assam on Thursday. “We, the United Liveration Front of Asom (Independent) would like to make it clear to all concern authorities that our organisation does not have any involvement in the firing incident that occurred on 1 November, 2018 at Sadiya SAikhowaghat in Tinsukia District.” Three members of a family were among five people shot dead by suspected ULFA (Independent) gunmen while two others were injured at Kheroni in Assam’s Tinsukia district Thursday night, police said. A group of assailants with sophisticated weapons came to this village near Dhola-Sadiya bridge and called out five-six people from their house around 8 pm, they said. They then opened indiscriminate fire upon those people before fleeing under the cover of darkness, a police officer said. Police suspect the gunmen belonged to the ULFA (Independent) faction as they were in battle fatigue. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condemned “the killing of innocent people” and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families. “Strong action will be taken against the perpetrators of this dastardly violence. We will not tolerate such cowardly act,” he told PTI. Sonowal said he has directed state ministers Keshav Mahanta and Tapan Gogoi along with DGP Kuladhar Saikia to rush to the spot. “We will not spare the culprits of the killings and they will be brought to book,” he said. The chief minister appealed to the people of Assam to maintain peace and harmony. He also directed all deputy commissioners and SPs to remain alert. According to Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mukdhajyoti Mahanta, the bodies have been taken to the Sadia Civil Hospital for postmortem. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Sonowal and took stock of the situation. Singh expressed deep anguish over the incident, saying strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of the heinous crime. “Deeply anguished by civilian casualties in an attack in Upper Assam region. It is a reprehensible act of mindless violence. Spoke to Assam CM Shri @sarbanandsonwal regarding the incident and asked him to take strict possible action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” he said. Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, former chief minster Tarun Gogoi, opposition Congress state president Ripun Bora, AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam and the Assam Sahitya Sabha were among those who also denounced the incident. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a Twitter post, wondered if the attack was related to developments around the National Register of Citizens (NRC). “Is this the outcome of recent NRC development,” she questioned. Banerjee strongly condemned the incident and offered condolences to the families of the deceased. “Terrible news coming out of Assam. We strongly condemn the brutal attack in Tinsukia… We have no words to express our deep sorrow to the grieving families. The perpetrators must be punished at the very earliest,” she added.
Assam killings updates: ULFA behind Tinsukia killing, say cops; 'denied responsibility for fear of losing popular support'
Assam killings LIVE updates: Even as ULFA (I) claimed that they were not behind the killing of five people in Assam, preliminary police investigation shows that ULFA was behind the shooting. Police sources have told Firstpost that the department felt that ULFA has denied responsibility of the killing in fear of losing popular support.
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We need Bengalis to tackle problem of Bangladeshi Muslims in Assam: State railway minister
Condemning the killings, Assam railway minister Rajen Gohain claimed that constituencies of Raha, Nagaon and Jagiroad should be be recovered from, who he referred to as “Bangladeshi-Muslims”. “If Assam does not welcome Hindu Bangladeshis, the state will be destroyed by the Muslim Bangladeshis. The Assamese community will become the slave of the Bangladeshi Muslims. Shall we take a stand against the Mughals or shall we take a stand against our brothers?”
Syeda Ambia/101Reporters
ULFA behind killings, say police
Even as ULFA (I) claimed that they were not behind the killing of five people in Assam, preliminary police investigation shows that ULFA was behind the shooting. Police sources have told Firstpost that the department felt that ULFA has denied responsibility of the killing in fear of losing popular support.
Syeda Ambia/101Reporters
Tinsukia shootings will affect tourism in Kaziranga
Influx of tourists in Kaziranga will be affected if Bengalis in Assam go through atrocities, says the Kaziranga Jeep Safari Association. They said a lot of the tourists come from West Bengal and if such incidents continue to occur it would affect the footfall.
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Students’ Union demands compensation of Rs 20 lakh each for victims’ family
All Assam Bengali Youth Students’ Federation has demanded compensation of Rs 20 lakh for each family of the deceased. Nirmal Kanti Seal, central secretary of the organisation said, " We strongly condemn this cowardice act and demand security for the people,".
Avik Chakraborty/101Reporters
Former ULFA leader detained
Former ULFA leader Jiten Dutta detained by Gaurisagar police in connection with yesterday’s killings. With Mrinal Hazarika’s detention, two former ULFA leaders have now been detained.
“As per instructions from the higher authorities we have detained Jiten Dutta. He will be kept in Gaurisagar police station and we will wait for further orders,” said Additional SP Bolin Deori of Sivasagar district.
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‘Incident marks beginning of riots’: All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students’ Association president
Pradip Dutta Roy, founder-president of the All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students’ Association, one of the influential organisations in southern Assam’s Barak Valley, said the incident is the beginning of a riot in the state.
“Assam will burn in violence, if the government does not take stern action in this regard,” he said.
Swapnaneel Bhattacharjee/101 Reporters
All Assam Bengali Youth Students Federation chief advisor urges people to remain calm
Sukumar Biswas, chief adviser of the All Assam Bengali Youth Students Federation said that the incident reveals many the loopholes of the administration. “They did not take any action even when some leaders had openly said that they would go and kill Bengalis by entering their houses,” he said.
He also said that people should stop spreading hate, and remain calm. “If leaders like Mrinal Hazarika, Jiten Dutta and Prabal Neog are brought under investigation, the main people behind the killing will be exposed. I urge everyone not to spread hatred and remain calm,” he said.
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ULFA leader Mrinal Hazarika arrested by Panbazar Police
ULFA leader Mrinal Hazarika was arrested by the Panbazar Police, over suspicions that he might be involved in the incident in Tinsukia. Earlier, he gave a controversial statement, threatening to bring back the 1983 Assam riots and killing Bengali-speaking people.
Tilak Purkayastha/101Reporters
Bengali student group in Assam calls for bandh on Satuday
The All Assam Bengali Youth Students’ Federation has called for a statewide bandh on Saturday, in protest against the killing of innocent people.
Avik Chakraborty/101Reporters
Assam BJP spokesperson says incident ‘proves that ULFA is not civilised **yet’**Calling the incident an act of cowardice, Assam
BJP spokesperson Rajdeep Roy said that the Ulfa is not civilised yet. “We have urged the government to take stern action against those involved and provide adequate compensation to the deceased’s kin,” he said.
Swapnaneel Bhattacharjee/101 Reporters
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee to stage dharna
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee is going to stage a dharna in front of Raj Bhavan at 11:30 am today to protest against the killing of five people in Dhola of Tinsukia district.
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Trinamool Congress to protest across Bengal
Trinamool Congress has announced that they will organise protest rallies on Friday in different parts of north and south Bengal, including Siliguri and Kolkata. In another tweet, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said that protest rallies will be held across West Bengal, including, Kolkata, Siliguri, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Nadia and other places.
Is this the outcome of recent NRC development: Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee wondered if the attack was a reaction to the National Register of Citizens in Assam. She wrote in a tweet, “Terrible news coming out of Assam. We strongly condemn the brutal attack in Tinsukia… Is this the outcome of recent NRC development.”
Cowards didn’t have the guts to kill Bangladeshi people, says leader of Hindu group
Reacting to the Tinsukia shootings, leader of Hindu Karnti Dal Mithun Debnath said, “ULFA (I) has let down the whole of Assam through this barbaric act. These cowards didn’t have the guts to kill Bangladeshi people. The people whom they killed are the indigenous Hindu-Bengali speaking people of Assam. We condemn the barbaric act.”
Avik Chakraborty/101Reporters
Assailants called out the 5 Bengali-speaking victims, shot them at the banks of Brahmaputra
According to eyewitness accounts, there were five to six gunmen all dressed in battle fatigues. The assailants called out the victims and shot them on the banks of the Brahmaputra river.
The village is reported to be a Bengali-dominated area, mostly comprising farmers and daily-wage workers. The victims have been identified as Shyamal Biswas (60), Ananta Biswas (18), Abhinash Biswas (23), Subal Das (60) and Dhananjay Namasudra (23).
RSS-affiliated NELECC blames Tinsukia killings on Centre’s NRC decision
Northeast Linguistic Ethnic Coordination Committee (NELECC) is a group formed by former RSS cadre which works in Barak Valley part of Assam. All the members are former or current member of RSS. They support unconditional citizenship for Hindus in India and want the citizenship amendment bill to be passed.
They condemned Prateek Hajela for his suggestion of scraping five documents from NRC update process. They depicted him as demon Mahishasur during recent Durga Puja as a part of protest. NELECC has called for a bandh in three districts of South Assam in protest against the Tinsukia killing.
They earlier depicted NRC coordinator Pratik Hajela as a demon and also protested against scraping of five documents. There are 15 documents in NRC process with which one can claim for Indian citizenship. Prateek Hajela suggested scraping of five out of those and appealed to the Supreme Court. His appeal was rejected by the apex court on Thursday.
Advocate Shantanu Naik from the organisation has said, “NELECC along with several other organisations of Barak Valley have called for 12-hour Bandh on 3 November. This is just a beginning, we are going to take this protest to Delhi if the government fails to take proper action.”
Tilak Pukayastha/101Reporters
Farmer leader demands arrest of BJP leader Shiladitya Dev for inciting violence
Assam farmer’s leader Akhil Gogoi, who has been leading a series of protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, has demanded the arrest of BJP leader Shiladitya Dev. He has accused him of acting as an RSS agent by inciting violence in the state through his controversial remarks.
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Security forces deployed in Kherbari
Security forces have been deployed in Kherbari of Tinsukia district where the incident took place. Assam DGP Kula Saikia is yet to reach the spot.
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Tinsukia, Dibrugarh regions tensed
The 24-hour bandh has affected normal life in Assam’s Tinsukia and Dibrugarh. All business establishment remained closed. Panbazar police arrested pro-talk Ulfa(I) leader Mrinal Hazarika just now.
Avik Chakraborty/101Reporters
ULFA(I) rejects claims that they killed 3 in Tinsukia
ULFA (I), in a press statement, claimed that they were not responsible for the killings in Assam on Thursday.
“We, the United Liveration Front of Asom (Independent) would like to make it clear to all concern authorities that our organisation does not have any involvement in the firing incident that occurred on 1 November, 2018 at Sadiya SAikhowaghat in Tinsukia District.”
The statememt was signed off by a member of the outfit’s publicity department.
Avik Chakraborty/101Reporters
