Mamata condemns Tinsukia killings, Trinamool to hold protest rallies  

Strongly condemning the gunning down of five people in Assam's Tinsukia district, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday demanded the punishment of the perpetrators at the earliest.

Banerjee also announced that the Trinamool Congress would organise protests rallies in her state on Friday, November 2.

Wondering whether the killings were the outcome of the recent "NRC (Natoional Register of citizens) development", Banerjee said she had "no words to express" her sorrow.

"Terrible news coming out of Assam. We strongly condemn the brutal attack in Tinsukia", Banerjee wrote on twitter. "Is this the outcome of recent NRC development?" she asked.

"We have no words to express our deep sorrow to the grieving families. The perpetrators must be punished at the very earliest," Banerjee posted on twitter.

"In protest against the brutal killings in Assam @AITCofficial will organise protest rallies tomorrow (Friday, November 2) in different parts of north and south Bengal including Siliguri and Kolkata," she said.

Condemning the Dhola incident, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal asked state Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta and Minister of State for Power Topon Kumar Gogoi to rush to the incident site to take stock of the situation.

Sonowal also asked Assam DGP Kula Saikia and ADGP Mukesh Agarwalla to immediately visit the site to tackle the situation, said an official statement.

The Chief Minister said that perpetrators of the crime would be dealt with firmly. He also directed all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to remain alert.

He condoled the death of innocent people and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families, the statement said.

Five persons were killed in Tinsukia district of Assam after militants fired indiscriminately at a group of people on Thursday evening, police said.

The incident took place at a remote location called Kherbari under Dhola Police Station in the district that borders Arunachal Pradesh in eastern Assam, the police said.

Locals said the armed militants came in Army fatigue and started firing at the people who were playing Ludo in front of a Dhaba on late Thursday evening.

The police suspect the hand of anti-talk action of ULFA militants behind the incident.

with IANS inputs.