Tension continues to grip terror-hit Philobari

Protestors take to streets against government iction, spontaneous bandh observed, ministers Atul Bora and Pallab Lochon Das meet victims’ families


BY OUR BUREAU

TINSUKIA/DIBRUGARH/DIGBOI, Aug 13: Fear and tension continue to grip the people of Tinsukia district following a terror attack at  Bamungaon under Philobari police station, about 35 km from district  headquarters on Friday evening, which left two Hindi speaking persons of a family dead while injuring another 6 persons of the locality. The people of Doomdooma- Phillobari area observed a spontaneous bandh on Saturday, blocking the tiol highway for six hours by burning tires to protest the killing and later submitted a memorandum to Doomdooma Circle Officer demanding adequate compensation to victims’ families.

The attack was carried out by suspected five to six militants of the ULFA’s anti-talk faction, firing indiscrimitely and killing two persons identified as Kishori Shah (65) and son Rajesh Shah (35) reciting kirtans outside their residence.

Meanwhile, hundreds of agitated people in Philobari area including various units of Bhojpuri organizations took to the streets here this morning to protest the barbarous act of the militants, besides condemning the attack on “Hindi speaking” community and blaming the police for their failure to protect lives of innocent civilians despite having full inputs of the attack beforehand.

An aggrieved demonstrator said: “The Hindi speaking community in Assam has been facing terror attacks since 2000, but the State government has miserably failed in protecting the lives of such people living in Tinsukia and other districts for generations. The demonstrators demand immediate action against the culprits, and security of life and property of the people of the victimized community.”

Talking to reporters, protestors alleged that the police from the local police station, just half-an-hour before the incident, warned residents of a possible militant attack. As fear psychosis gripped the area, they demanded adequate deployment of armed and paramilitary forces in the area and withdrawal of State forces.

Meanwhile, ministers Atul Bora and Pallab Lochon Das visited the terror-hit Philobari area and met family members of the victims. The Assam government has declared fincial compensation of Rs 5 lakh as ex-gratia each to the family of the deceased while another Rs 1 lakh each to the injured.

It may be added here that the outfit had on August 9 warned the Assam government of a “violent clash”, if Independence Day was celebrated for three consecutive days. Meanwhile, the cadres of ULFA and other militant organizations have been seen constantly moving in and around Pengaree-Bordumsa, Kakojan-zirating and other belts of the district sharing common boundaries with adjoining Changlang and msai districts of Aruchal.

On  August 3 last,  a powerful IED was recovered from a forest near Pengeri police station, sharing common reserve forest area touching Philobari area.

However, Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdhajyoti Dev Mahanta said that operations have been launched against the militants and security measures in the district have been intensified.

The six injured who were shifted to Assam Medical College Hospital in neighboring Dibrugarh district was reported to be out of danger till filling of this report.  

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