Centre had warned State of attacks

Staff Reporter



People fleeing their homes after the NDFB(S) attacks at Tenganala of Sonitpur district on Wednesday. - UB Photos People fleeing their homes after the NDFB(S) attacks at Tenganala of Sonitpur district on Wednesday. - UB Photos After the killings in two places each on Sonitpur and Kokrajhar yesterday, two incidents of retaliatory attacks took place in Behali and Majbat today, resulting in the death of four persons, while three persons were killed when police opened fire on protesters in Dhekiajuli. Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told The Assam Tribune that the State Government was alerted about the possibility of such attacks after security agencies intercepted some messages of the leaders of the outfit. The whole plan of attacking Adivasi people was masterminded by senior leader of the outfit, Bidai and immediately after intercepting his messages, the Centre sounded an alert. Sources revealed that around 3 pm yesterday, another message was intercepted and the possible locations of the attacks were given to the Assam Police immediately. The orders to the cadres were very specific and they were asked to target only Adivasi people. The Assam Police was alerted about the general areas where the militants could strike as there were reports of movement of armed groups and the alerts proved to be correct as the militants opened indiscriminate fire on innocent Adivasi people, killing more than 70, mostly women and children. Sources also said that about a year back, Bidai was in touch with a few senior officials of the Assam Police as he was supposed to come overground with the Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB. However, later, the militant leader did a U-turn and joined the Songbijit faction of the outfit. Meanwhile, the vice president of the Bodoland People�s Front and former Minister Chandan Brahma said that OK Songbijit has been trying to destroy the Bodo community. Condemning the killings, Brahma said that Songbijit was trying to create conflict among different communities in the State. He also said that no one gave authority to Songbijit, who does not belong to Bodo community, to take any step on behalf of the community.