Bodo rebels shoot two security men, threaten Assam polls

Guwahati, March 25 (IANS) At least two security personnel were injured in firing by anti-talks faction of the NDFB militants in Assam's Udalguri district Tuesday morning. The faction has threatened to disrupt the Lok Sabha polls in the state.

The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militants said they would attack political leaders and security personnel, including the director general of Assam Police.

The firing took place a few hours after the NDFB militants from the faction opposed to any peace talks threatened to disrupt March 27 rally of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in Assam.

"A joint team of Assam Police and the Cobra battalion of the CRPF launched an operation in the area under Mazbat police station in the district Monday night. However, the NDFB militants started firing at the team, forcing the latter to retaliate. In the gun battle, two security personnel received bullet injuries," said Bodoland Territorial Area District's Inspector General of Police L.R. Bishnoi.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Tuesday expressed concern over the NDFB militants' threat, but said the government would deal with them strictly.

"They (the NDFB militants) have threatened the Congress leaders across the state," Gogoi said, adding both Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi would visit the state to campaign for the party.

"While Rahul will arrive here March 27, the date for Sonia's visit is yet to be finalised," Gogoi added.

The NDFB militants have already threatened Congress legislator Bhupen Bora, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Tezpur constituency. The militants appealed to the Bodo people not to vote for Bora, alleging that he was promoting anti-Bodo and anti-tribal organisations in the state.

The NDFB militants opposing peace talks had also threatened Asom Gana Parishad legislator Padma Hazarika, accusing him of dividing the Bodo community.