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Dozens Killed in Suspected Guerrilla Attack in India’s Assam State

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Activists of the Assam Tea Tribes Student Association (ATTSA) shout slogans as they block the road with burning tyres during a protest against attacks on villagers by militants in four different locations, at Biswanath Chariali in the Sonitpur district of northeastern Assam state on December 24, 2014STRDEL—AFP/Getty
By Per Liljas

At least 52 people have been killed in armed attacks in the Indian state of Assam.

Fears are the death toll, which allegedly includes women and children, could rise, reports the BBC.

Police blame the late Tuesday attacks on the separatist guerrilla National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), which is fighting for an independent homeland for the Bodo people.

The killings took place in remote villages in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts. Reports said assailants forced their way into huts of non-Bodo tribespeople working in the local tea gardens and opened fire. Authorities have now imposed an indefinite curfew in Sonitpur.

Assam has been plagued by ethnic clashes involving a number of rebel groups in recent years. In May, 32 people belonging to the minority Muslim community were killed.

[BBC]

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