Assam district tense after militants abduct four

Guwahati, July 12 :

Tension prevailed in Baksa district of Assam Saturday following the abduction of four people by suspected Bodo militants, police said.

Cadres of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) faction opposed to peace talks with the government abducted the four people Friday night from the district, part of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD).

Army and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel have been deployed along with police to conduct search operations, even as curfew has been imposed in some areas in Gobardhana region.

“A group of seven small-time traders had gone to Salbari area Friday but four of them did not return. Three people who were also in the group, however, returned home,” police said.

Four abandoned bicycles of the missing people have been recovered.

“Preliminary investigation revealed the involvement of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB behind the incident,” said Assam Police chief Khagen Sarma.

“The situation is under control but we have imposed curfew in some areas to ensure that this does not take a serious turn,” said a senior district administration official.

The BTAD region of Assam – which includes four districts, Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang and Udalguri – had witnessed clashes between Bodos and Bengali-speaking Muslim settlers in 2012 that led to the death of over 90 civilians.

Earlier this year, the NDFB had attacked Bengali-speaking Muslims in BTAD.

(IANS)