| 2014 Assam violence | |
|---|---|
| Part ofInsurgency in Northeast India | |
 | |
| Location | Assam, India |
| Date | 1 May 2014 (2014-05-01) – 3 May 2014 (2014-05-03) |
| Weapons | AK 47[1] |
| Deaths | 33 (and 3 suspected perpetrators)[2][3] |
| Perpetrators | 3 suspected members of theNational Democratic Front of Bodoland'sSongbijit faction |
| Motive | Not voting for Bodos[4] |
From the night of 1 May 2014 until the early morning hours of 3 May, a series of attacks occurred againstBengali Muslims inAssam, a north-eastern state of India. The perpetrators are suspected to be members of the terrorist groupNational Democratic Front of Bodoland'sSongbijit faction.[3][5] Speculated to be revenge for not voting for the National Democratic Front in theLok Sabha elections,[4] the death toll reached 33.[6]
TheBodo people are an indigenous community in theAssam state of India and constitute about 3% of the state's population of 31 million people. Theinsurgency in Northeast India has been ongoing for decades, involving several rebel groups.In 2012, violence between Bodo tribal people and Bengali Muslims resulted in 108 deaths fueled by anAssam PoliceConstable Mohibur Islam (alias Ratul).[7]
In India, theLok Sabhaelection was being held which would conclude its last phase on 12 May and the results would be declared on 16 May.[2]
Around 07:30 PMIST on 1 May, insurgents, arriving on bicycles, raided theBaksa district village of Narsingbari, opening fire on a house, killing three women and injuring two others. In the early morning hours of 2 May, another group of insurgents opened fire at three houses in the village ofBalapara in the district ofKokrajhar, killing seven people. On the evening of the same day, another group killed 12 people and burned down 30 thatched houses nearBaksa'sManas National Park.[4] On 3 May, four suspected insurgents attacked police in the forest nearTezpur. Police fired in retaliation, killing two suspects while saying that another two had fled. Police killed an additional suspect inUdalguri district, recovering a revolver and a hand grenade.[2]
Police arrested 22 people along with eight forest guards to investigate their involvement.[2] TheAssam government decided to hand over the probe toNational Investigation Agency.[8]
Due to the attack, several Bengali Muslims from theDotoma region ofKokrajhar district and its environs fled their homes.Bodoland Territorial Council chiefHagrama Mohilary pacified the panicked people and promised them of security.[4] Curfew was set in Kokrajhar, Baksa, andChirang districts and shoot-on-sight orders had been issued in Kokrajhar and Baksa.[3] TheArmy did flag marches in the sensitive areas of Kokrajhar and Baksa districts. Ten additional companies ofCentral Reserve Police Force were moved to the two districts. Strong action against the National Democratic Font has been initiated by thehome ministry of India.[4]
The Union Home Ministry deployed 43 companies of theCentral Armed Police Forces while theDefense Ministry also deployed 15 columns of the Army numbering approximately 1,500 soldiers.[9]
Then-Chief Minister of Assam,Tarun Gogoi, reviewed the situation with top government officials. The opposition political parties blamed the Gogoi-led government in failing to protect lives despite intelligence alerts.[3]Prime Minister of India,Manmohan Singh condemned the attack and termed it as a cowardly attempt to spread fear and terror.[10]
In a statement, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit, NDFB) denied their involvement in the attack and claimed it was a conspiracy by the state government to create communal friction between Bodos and Muslims.[11][12] Relatives of the dead urged Gogoi to provide affirmative security and visit the area. They complained of pressure from local authorities to immediately conduct delayed funeral rites for those killed.[13]