Three more killed by NDFB militants in Assam, toll rises to 21

Three more persons were gunned down by National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) rebels today to take the overnight toll in serial violence in seven districts of Assam to 21 as the authorities sounded a red alert across the state.

The rebels belonging to the anti-talk faction of the banned organisation shot dead two Hindi-speaking persons of a minority community at Ultapani in Kokrajhar district on the Indo-Bhutan border early this morning, police said.

Then in neighbouring Chirang district, the NDFB ultras gunned down a cycle mechanic at his residence at Domgaon village in the Bengtol police station area, they said.

In night-long violence yesterday, the rebels had killed 18 people, including eight Hindi-speaking and eight bus passengers, and injuring over 20.

Most of the attacks took place in Sonitpur district, bordering Arunachal Pradesh, where 14 people had been gunned gunned down.