15 migrants gunned down in Assam

Suspected militants of KLNLF (Karbi Longri Northcachar Liberation Front) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) gunned down 15 Hindi-speaking people, including six children, at Dolamora Rong Teron village in Karbi Anglong Hill district on Friday.

This is the second such attack on the migrants this week. On August 8, militants killed eight people when they attacked two Hindi-speaking families at Ampahar village in Bokolia district.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday visited the Ampahar village in Bokolia and met the family members of victims. The state has announced Rs three lakh as ex-gratia to next of kin of the deceased.

Anurag Tangkha, Karbi Anglong Hill superintendent of police, said a group of about 15-20 militants entered the house of Dilip Chahu and started indiscriminate firing.

The armed militants then went on killing people in three other families.

"We suspect KLNLF and ULFA jointly carried out the attack," the police official said.

There is a substantial number of Hindi-speaking people living in Karbi Anglong Hill district. The KLNLF has been fighting for a separate homeland for tribal

Karbis

living in the two hill districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar.

First Published: Aug 12, 2007 03:22 IST