GUWAHATI: Suspected militants belonging to the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent) or the anti-talks faction of the ULFA, killed a father and son duo at Bordumsa at Dirak in Tinsukia district of Assam on Monday night triggering protests in the state.
The slain persons have been identified as Anteswar Mahanta, president of local village defence party (VDP) and his son Karun Mahanta, a former president of Kakopathar regional unit of All Assam Students Union (AASU).
A group of six suspected ULFA (I) militants came knocking at the door of Mahanta family and fired upon the door compelling Karun Mahanta to open the door. The ultras then forced Anteswar Mahanta who was having dinner at that time, out of the house and shot him. The ultras then killed his son Karun too before making good their escape. Both of them were declared brought dead in the hospital
The ULFA-I had earlier demanded money from Mahanta family and branded Anteswar Mahanta as a spy of India Army.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal who also holds the Home portfolio, while condemning the dastardly killing by the militants stated that the government would not tolerate such heinous act of killing of innocent people. The CM directed the DGP to rush to the incident site and launch massive operation to track down the culprits.
Peeved at the killing of one of its former leader, Karun Mahanta and his father, the influential AASU has demanded immediate stern action from the government to nab the culprits and take steps to prevent such dastardly killings in the state.
Police said the VDP president Anteswar Mahanta has been coordinating with police and security forces to prevent ULFA-I to carry out extortion in the area.
(EoM)