Suspected militant attack on trucks in Assam, five dead
New Delhi, August 26
Five people were killed and one injured when suspected militants fired at trucks and set them on fire in Assam’s Dima Hasao district.
The police said at around 8.30pm, a group of armed men stopped the trucks, including six carrying cement and one loaded with coal, and started firing indiscriminately.
The police added that the group fired at the vehicles for several minutes and then set them afire.
Five persons have died in the incident and one sustained injury. All of them are drivers and handymen of the trucks, police added.
The police suspect the involvement of the Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) in the attack. A cement factory’s refusal to yield to DNLA’s extortion demands is suspected to have led to it.
This was the first such attack in Assam since May 14 when two people were killed in a grenade blast at Digboi in the Tinsukia district. United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) was suspected to have been involved in the attack.
The additional forces were deployed and combing operation was started to nab those involved in the incident.
DNLA seeks an independent nation for the Dimasa community through an armed struggle. In recent months, members of the outfit have been killed in gun battles with security forces or have surrendered. The outfit was formed in April 2019.
DNLA claims to be fighting for protecting the tribe’s culture, language and restoring the Dimasa kingdom, one of the earliest of the region. Dima Halam Daogah and Black Widow rebel groups were earlier active in the region but have now become inactive.
Assam has a history of armed groups representing various communities seeking sovereignty, a separate state, or an autonomous region. Several of them like the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, United Liberation Front of Asom (pro-talks faction) have given up the armed struggle and signed peace deals with the Centre.
