Jorhat, July 15: Angry villagers staged a protest today when Tinsukia deputy commissioner Puru Gupta visited the residence of trader Nandalal Sahu, who, along with his 18-year-old daughter Kajol, was killed by Ulfa (I) militants last night.
Tinsukia superintendent of police A. Deka has been transferred as Commandant of 1 Assam Police Task Force. He was replaced by his Karbi Anglong counterpart M.J. Mahanta. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi also reviewed the law and order situation this evening.
Police sources said a group of seven militants came to Sahu's house around 9.15pm, dragged him out and shot him dead. As the militants were dragging out the trader, his wife, Manti Devi, and daughter rushed out to save him. The militants shot at them as well. Hearing the gunshots, two of Sahu's relatives, Manoj Shah and Akshyalal Shah, who are his neighbours, rushed out and were also shot at.
The incident took place at Bijuliban village under Pengeri police station, a remote area near Pengeri reserve forest, nearly 60km from Tinsukia town. Sahu ran a bicycle repairing and knick-knacks shop adjacent to his house.
Police sources said Sahu was served an extortion notice by Ulfa (I).
Demanding protection, the protesters shouted slogans against the government and police. They alleged that the police reached the spot several hours after the incident.
Gupta told The Telegraph this evening that "it was natural that people were angry" and were protesting after such a "ghastly" killing.
The deputy commissioner said the government has released Rs 10 lakh as compensation for both victims and the cheques would be handed over to Sahu's wife, who, along with two other persons, is undergoing treatment at Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh. They are out of danger.
Gupta said the district administration would send proposals to Dispur to be forwarded to Delhi for sanctioning of the Centre's compensation of Rs 3 lakh and another Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, to be given to next of kin of the victims.
The protesters in several areas of Tinsukia district blocked roads for about six hours and most of the shops and business establishments were shut. The police had to resort to a lathicharge to disperse the protesters at Makum late this afternoon when they refused to clear the area. Some of the protesters were injured in the scuffle and threw stones on police vehicles.
Tinsukia additional superintendent of police (headquarters) L. Doungel said counter-insurgency operations have been intensified in Tinsukia, which shares a long boundary with Arunachal Pradesh. Additional director-general of police (law and order) R.M. Singh arrived in Tinsukia and visited the site of the incident and reviewed the security scenario with senior police officials.
"A massive operation against the Ulfa group will be launched like we have done against the NDFB (S)," director-general of police Khagen Sarma said in Guwahati.
The Assam PCC condemned the attack by Ulfa (I).
A delegation of the All Assam Bhojpuri Parishad, Assam, led by its president Parshuram Dubey, met joint secretary, ministry of home affairs, Shambhu Singh, in Delhi this morning and submitted a memorandum to him condemning the killings and seeking strong steps against the suspected Ulfa members. He also sought protection of Bhojpuri people of Assam. Dubey said problems cannot be resolved through violence and requested all militant groups to come forward for talks.
The police reshuffle today also saw Shyamal Saikia posted as Kokrajhar SP, P.R. Kar as Karimgang SP, Debojit Deuri as Karbi Anglong SP, Mahesh Sharma as Hamren SP and Imdad Hussain as Sadiya SP.
IGP Vinod Kumar was transferred to Training and Armed Police while DIG Anurag Agarwal has been made DIG Southern Range, A.P. Baruah as DIG Central Range, Ataur Karim as DIG Armed Police and Training and Abhijeet Bora as SSP (CID).
Militant held
An Ulfa (I) militant, arrested last night from Kanubari along the Assam-Nagaland-Arunachal Pradesh border in Sivasagar district, said during interrogation that he along with four cadres have crossed over from Myanmar to carry out strikes on police stations and security forces.
Two grenades were recovered from Kanu Khanikar, 26, of Balijan Grant village, from where he was apprehended. An official at Sonari police station said Kanu and the group of militants were instructed by Pradip Asom, an Ulfa (I) leader based in Myanmar, to carry out the strikes.
