Cellphone Footage Gives A Glimpse Of Terrorist Who Triggered Assam Blast

New Delhi: Minutes before they gunned down 13 people and injured nearly 20 at the village market in Assam's Kokrajhar on Friday, at least one suspected NDFB (S) terrorist was caught on camera walking causally in the market.

Cellphone shots accessed by NDTV show him wearing a blue rain coat, an automatic rifle slung across his shoulder. In another picture the same gunman is seen sitting behind a makeshift stall in the Balajan Tiniali market, about 12 km from Kokrajhar.

The gunman was killed by the security forces who rushed to the spot soon after the firing began. A second gunman escaped. The Indian Army, Police and security agencies have launched an operation.
 

The dead terrorist has been identified as Manjay Islari, reported news agency Press Trust of India quoting Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma."He is a self-styled area commander of 16th battalion of NDFB(S) faction. We will give the body to his parents," the minister was quoted as saying.

Sources told NDTV that the Bodo terror group had lost four of their top cadres in July following a joint operation by the army and the local police. "This attack is a retaliation," a top security official said.

Investigators from the NIA (National Investigation Authority) are combing the state to arrest the militants of Bodo separatist group NDFB(S), which is suspected to be involved in the strike. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal will visit Kokrajhar tomorrow.

Combing operation by the police, para-military forces and the army is also on across neighbouring Chirang district. The forces have pressed into service special troops, tracker dogs and other equipment.

The Army is also carrying out extensive area domination operations in the district to ensure swift actions, they said.

A strict vigil is being maintained along the Assam-Bengal border and international fronts with Bhutan to prevent the militants from escaping there.