In a blow to the newly formed government by Sarbannanda Sonowal in Assam – heavily armed militants belonging to a faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) led by Songbijit struck a busy market place in Kokrajhar district.

In what is being viewed as a retaliation to Assam police’s nabbing down of four NDFB insurgents on August 3 – a group of militants came in a car and came cracking down on the Balajan Tiniali market killing 12 civilians and injuring over 20. In the shootout that followed one militant died and the area has been cordoned off and the security personnel and police believe that there are others hiding in the surrounding buildings.

NDFB had remained a bone of contention in Assam where the violent situation has imporved a bit over the years. Even while sections of ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) are in peace talks with centre and state government, time and again National Democratic Front of Bodoland has been opposing peace talks and has played a major role in igniting inter-ethnic violence. The group, which is active in Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Darrang, Barpeta, Nalbari and Sonitpur districts targets tribals like Santhals, Oraons and Mundas besides Muslims suspected to be Bangladeshi immigrants settled in these districts.