2 armymen, 6 civilians killed in Hajo

GUWAHATI, Dec 1: At least eight persons including one Army Major were killed and 10 others were injured in a clash between Armymen and villagers at Biharikota village near Kolitakuchi area under Hajo police station this afternoon. According to agency reports, nine persons were killed in the incident. The Inspector General of Police (Special Branch) Sri Khagen Sarma, said that it was a case of mistaken identity as the villagers mistook the Armymen as United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants and attacked them, and the Army platoon was forced to open fire in retaliation. Sri Sarma said that a school teacher of the village had received an extortion note from the ULFA by post and the villagers decided to resist any extortion move by the ultras. He revealed that in the meantime, the Army was also informed about the extortion bid and a group of Army personnel of the Assam Regiment, headed by a Major went to the village in civil dress to conduct an operation. The villagers mistook the Armymen to be members of the UFLA as the Army personnel of the Assam Regiment looked like local militants, and subsequently attacked them with sharp weapons. One Army major and a jawan were killed in the incident. The Armymen had to open fire in retaliation, killing six villagers on the spot, while at least 10 others were injured. Seven of the seriously injured villagers have been shifted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital for treatment. The whole area became very tense after the unfortunate incident. The Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup and the Superintendent of Police as well as other senior officers have rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. Meanwhile, police sources said here late this evening that the Armymen killed in the incident have been identified as Major RAS Thabah and sepoy Debojit Deuri. A naik subedar of the Army was also seriously injured in the incident. Army sources also admitted that the tragedy occurred due to a case of mistaken identity as the villagers attacked the Armymen in civil dress as soon as they got down from the vehicle in the village, by mistaking them for militants.