PM saddens by BTAD killings

Sonia says perpetrators of such acts should be dealt with in the ''severest possible manner''

NEW DELHI, Aug 5: Prime Minister rendra Modi on Friday said he was saddened by the death of 13 people at the hands of terrorists in Assam.  “Saddened by the attack in Kokrajhar. We strongly condemn it. Thoughts and prayers with the bereaved families and those injured,” Modi tweeted. He said the Home Ministry was in touch with the State Government and was monitoring the situation closely.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, in a statement issued from New Delhi, said the whole incident is shocking. In the last several months, the situation in BTAD was by and large peaceful and the Centre is in discussions with a few underground organizations active in that region. “I have taken up the matter with Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal and the Central Government will provide all necessary help to the Assam Government to deal with the situation,” added Rijiju. Congress president Sonia Gandhi described the militant attack in Kokrajhar town as “mindless and dastardly” and said the perpetrators of such acts should be dealt with in the “severest possible manner”. Gandhi said: “The perpetrators of such acts that target innocent and unsuspecting common people shall be dealt with in the severest possible manner.” Hoping that immediate relief measures were being taken, Gandhi instructed the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee and the frontal organisations of the party to reach out to the injured and bereaved with all possible assistance. (IANS)