10 killed as attackers fire at Assam village

Atleast 10 people from a village in Assam were gunned down by unidentified gunmen from Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday

Guwahati: At least 10 people were killed and eight others injured when assailants fired indiscriminately at a village in Assam on Wednesday evening, police said.

Three other people reportedly went missing after the firing near the Behali reserve forest in Sonitpur district, police said.

Home Commissioner G.D. Tripathy confirmed the incident and said police have rushed to the area bordering Arunachal Pradesh.

"The victims said a group of attackers came from Arunachal Pradesh and started firing at them," police said.

Police said they were yet to ascertain the identity of the attackers and the reason behind the attack.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is in New Delhi, called up the police chief and chief secretary over the incident and instructed them to rush additional forces to the area.

Officials say border dispute between the two states - Assam and Arunachal Pradesh - seems to be one of the main reasons behind such clashes. The area has witnessed several clashes in the past involving people from both sides who stake claim over the land under Behali reserve forest.

Earlier this month, the Assam forest department had evicted a few families from Arunachal Pradesh and demolished a camp of the Arunachal forest department. On Jan 10, unidentified attackers fired at a camp of the Assam forest department inside the reserve forest and injured a forest guard.

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