Lok Sabha condoles Kokrajhar massacre victims

New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) The Lok Sabha on Monday condoled the death of 13 people in the recent violence that took place in Kokrajhar, Assam.

As soon as the house assembled for the day to resume its session after the weekend break, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan read out a brief statement describing the actions of the wrongdoers as an act of “cowardice”.

The house also stood in silence for a while as a mark of respect for the departed.

On August 5, in a worst terror attack in northeastern state of Assam since 2014, gunmen in military fatigues opened fire at a crowded market in Kokrajhar town on Friday, killing 13 civilians.

One of the attackers was also killed after an army patrol party fired back.

Authorities in the state have blamed the anti-talks faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) led by I.K. Songbijit, who carries a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, for the massacre.