12 killed in separatist violence in northeast India
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk Report

GUWAHATI (India): At least 12 people were killed and seven wounded in a fresh bout of militant violence in India's restive northeastern state of Assam, police said.

Six heavily-armed separatist militants fired on a group of people gathered in a village square in western Assam before escaping into the jungle, Dhubri district police chief L.R. Bishnoi said.

The Casualties

Ten people, all from the Muslim minority, died on the spot, the officer said.

"The condition of at least three of the injured is very critical," he said, adding that security forces were hunting for the attackers, who he said, used "sophisticated weapons."

It was the fourth attack blamed on rebels belonging to the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland in the district since Sunday.

The Death Toll

The latest attack took the death toll in recent days in the northeast to 81 with a further 217 injured. The region has around two dozen militant and separatist groups.

The National Democratic Front of Bodoland is fighting for an independent homeland for the Bodo tribe and is active in parts of western and northern Assam.

Backdrop

The group Saturday killed 14 shoppers in Makrijhora, a village a few kilometers (miles) from the scene of Tuesday's attack in the village of Jalabela.

On Sunday, its rebels bombed a market in Dhubri district's Gauripur area killing three and wounding 25 more.

Dhubri Episode

In other violence in Dhubri early on Tuesday, rebels killed a villager belonging to the rival Adivasi Santhal community while army soldiers shot dead a militant from the United Liberation Front of Asom in eastern Assam.

On Saturday, three bomb explosions in neighbouring Nagaland killed 28 and wounded 86, shattering months of relative peace in the scenic Himalayan region.

The latest violence came as the National Democratic Front of Bodoland offered Tuesday to hold talks with the Indian government.

CM for Talks

"We are ready to hold talks with New Delhi and shall soon convey our decision with respect to the Assam chief minister's truce offer within a few days," it said in a statement.

Last week, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi offered to reach a ceasefire with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland and the United Liberation Front of Asom, asking the two groups to respond to the truce offer by October-15.

Incidents of Bombings

Since last Saturday, there have been 21 incidents of bombings and shootings in Assam and Nagaland. Both of the groups have claimed responsibility for some of the attacks.

Intelligence and security officials said the groups were trying to send the message that they were still a force to be reckoned with and to show their ability to strike at will.

The Strikes

"The strikes began two days after the Assam chief minister offered a conditional ceasefire," a security expert said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Minister Gogoi said talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom should be "unconditional".

"They must realise it and stop violence. Their activities clearly indicate that they are not interested in the welfare of the people of Assam," he told a news conference.

The United States meanwhile offered to help probe the attacks, saying officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation could be made available to help hunt down the attackers, according to the external affairs ministry.●