The anti-talks faction of the ULFA — the ULFA(I) — has distanced itself from the killing of five people by unidentified gunmen yesterday, claiming that the outfit is not involved with the massacre of the five people.
“We, the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), would like to make it clear to all concern(ed) authorities that our organization does not have any involvement in the firing incident at Sadiya Saikhowaghat in Tinsukia district,” the rebel outfit stated in a release issued to the media.
Five persons — Shymal Biswas, Ananta Biswas, Abhinash Biswas (all belonging to a single family), Subal Das and Dhananjay Namsudra — were killed in indiscriminate firing by unidentified gunmen at Kharbari Bisonimukh village near Dhola in Assam’s Tinsukia district yesterday evening.
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Meanwhile, protests broke out at many places in eastern Assam districts with shops and business houses downing shutters and people taking to the streets demanding arrest of those involved in the massacre and providing security to the lives and property of the people.
#FLASH | People stage sit-in demonstration on streets in Tinsukia to protest yesterday's killing of five people by unidentified gunmen at Dhola. pic.twitter.com/IytQ2he7Pb
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) November 2, 2018
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, meanwhile, condemned the incident and has asked ministers Keshab Mahanta & Topan Kumar Gogoi, DGP Kuladhar Saikia & ADGP Mukesh Agarwalla to rush to the spot and take stock of the situation.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on innocent people at Sadiya. My hearfelt condolence to the family members of those who have lost their lives,” CM Sonowal tweeted.
“We will take strongest action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime. I have directed all law enforcing agencies to maintain peace and take stern action against anybody trying to destabilise our peaceful society and state,” Chief Minister Sonowal added in another message on the social media.
“Ministers Keshab Mahanta, Tapan Gogoi, DGP @saikia_kula (Kuladhar Saikia) and ADGP Mukesh Agrawal have been directed to rush to the spot and take immediate measures. I urge all to maintain peace & tranquility and pray for the departed souls,” he further stated.
I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on innocent people at Sadiya. My hearfelt condolence to the family members of those who have lost their lives.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) November 1, 2018
We will take strongest action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime. I have directed all law enforcing agencies to maintain peace and take stern action against anybody trying to destabilise our peaceful society and state.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) November 1, 2018
Ministers Keshab Mahanta, Tapan Gogoi, DGP @saikia_kula and ADGP Mukesh Agrawal have been directed to rush to the spot and take immediate measures.
I urge all to maintain peace & tranquility and pray for the departed souls.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) November 1, 2018
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his grief and anguish over the incident and instructed the Assam Government “to take strict possible action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime”.
#DholaIncident | Union Home Minister #RajnathSingh condemns the incident. pic.twitter.com/VMsoTcxBic
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) November 1, 2018
Security across the State has been beefed up in the wake of the killings at Dhola.
