An unidentified gunman on Friday shot dead at least 12 people and wounded 15 in a busy market area in a town in restive Assam, police officials said.
The gunman opened fire at the crowded market in Kokrajhar, a town about 220 km west of the state’s commercial capital Guwahati, superintendent of police in the town of Sreejith T told Reuters.
The encounter reportedly began when police responded to a militant who opened fire in a market area.
Television news channels quoted the Assam director general of police saying were three to four militants involved, but Hindustan Times could not independently verify this.
“The Kokrajhar incident has come as a shock. (It is a) very dastardly and unfortunate attack,” minister of state, home affairs, Kiren Rijiju said.
“Have to be certain of elements behind Kokrajhar attack, cannot give official figures right now.”
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal reportedly spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh.
Singh tweeted that the ministry was closely monitoring the situation.
The gunman opened fire at the crowded market in Kokrajhar, a town about 220 km west of the state’s commercial capital Guwahati, superintendent of police in the town of Sreejith T told Reuters.
The encounter reportedly began when police responded to a militant who opened fire in a market area.
Television news channels quoted the Assam director general of police saying were three to four militants involved, but Hindustan Times could not independently verify this.
“The Kokrajhar incident has come as a shock. (It is a) very dastardly and unfortunate attack,” minister of state, home affairs, Kiren Rijiju said.
“Have to be certain of elements behind Kokrajhar attack, cannot give official figures right now.”
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal reportedly spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh.
Singh tweeted that the ministry was closely monitoring the situation.