Kokrajhar, Aug. 21: Gunmen, suspected to be cadres of the Ranjan Daimary faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), shot dead a member of the Bodoland Peoples Front early this morning in Kokrajhar district.

Police said four to five gunmen came to the house of Sonen Basumatary at Bangalbazar Sukansangra under Bismuri outpost around 6.10am and shot him dead from point-blank range. Basumatary, 32, who was hit by three bullets, died on the spot.

Suren Borgoary, a resident of Sukansangra, said the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons.

BPF leaders suspect the hand of the anti-talks faction of the NDFB in the incident.

The BPF is an ally of the Congress in the government.

Sources said today’s killing could be in retaliation to the relentless operations against the NDFB in the past few months.

Derhasat Basumatary, the BPF Kokrajhar district secretary and Bodoland Territorial Council executive member said the NDFB was behind the killing.

He said the spate of violence by the rebel faction had created terror in the minds of the people and called upon the government to take strict measures against the outfit

The Bodo belt has witnessed a series of violent activities since April, 2008.

Several social organisations and intellectuals lamented the government’s failure to provide security to the people.

All Bodo Students Union president Promode Boro said, “The unity of the community is under serious threat. It’s time for us to think and work for a peaceful atmosphere.”

“The government has totally failed to protect the people. There is still no policy to ensure security which is why such incidents take place,” C. Brahma, a senior citizen, said.