Three members of a family were among five people shot dead by suspected ULFA (Independent) gunmen while two others were injured at Kheroni village in Assam's Tinsukia district on Thursday night, police said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked whether the attack was related to the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
A group of assailants with sophisticated weapons came to the village near Dhola-Sadiya bridge and called out five-six people from their house around 8pm, police said.
They then opened indiscriminate fire upon those people before fleeing under the cover of darkness, a police officer said.
Police suspect the gunmen belonged to the ULFA (Independent) faction as they were in battle fatigues.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condemned "the killing of innocent people" and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families.
"Strong action will be taken against the perpetrators of this dastardly violence. We will not tolerate such cowardly acts," Sonowal told PTI.
Sonowal said he had directed state ministers Keshav Mahanta and Tapan Gogoi along with DGP Kuladhar Saikia to rush to the spot.
"We will not spare the culprits of the killings and they will be brought to book," Sonowal said.
Sonowal appealed to the people of Assam to maintain peace and harmony.
Sonowal also directed all deputy commissioners and SPs to remain alert.
According to Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mukdhajyoti Mahanta, the bodies have been taken to the Sadia Civil Hospital for postmortem.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Sonowal and took stock of the situation.
Singh expressed deep anguish over the incident, saying strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
"Deeply anguished by civilian casualties in an attack in Upper Assam region. It is a reprehensible act of mindless violence. Spoke to Assam CM Shri @sarbanandsonwal regarding the incident and asked him to take strict possible action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime," he said.
Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, opposition Congress state president Ripun Bora, AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam and the Assam Sahitya Sabha were among those who also denounced the incident.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a Twitter post, wondered if the attack was related to developments around the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
"Is this the outcome of recent NRC development," Banerjee questioned.
Banerjee strongly condemned the incident and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.
"Terrible news coming out of Assam. We strongly condemn the brutal attack in Tinsukia... We have no words to express our deep sorrow to the grieving families. The perpetrators must be punished at the very earliest," Banerjee added.
