Tinsukia, Nov 2(India Today): The United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) (Ulfa (I)) has denied its involvement in the killing of five men in Assam's Tinsukia district on Thursday.

Six men were abducted and shot at by suspected Ulfa (I) militants at Kheroni in Tinsukia district. Four of them died on the spot, one at a hospital and the sixth is injured. Three members of a family were among the five killed.

In a written statement, ULFA (I) has denied any involvement in the killing of five men on Thursday (November 1).

"We, United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) would like to make it clear to all concerned authorities that our organisation does not have any involvement in the firing incident that occurred on November 1 at Sadiya Saikhowaghat in Tinsukia district," the militant outfit said in the statement.

According to the Assam Police, a group of assailants with sophisticated weapons came to the village near Dhola-Sadiya bridge and called out five-six people from their house around 8 pm.

They then opened indiscriminate fire upon those people before fleeing under the cover of darkness, a police officer said.

Police officers said they suspect the gunmen belonged to the Ulfa (Independent) faction as they were in battle fatigue.

Condemning the killing, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, "Strong action will be taken against the perpetrators of this dastardly violence. We will not tolerate such cowardly act. We will not spare the culprits of the killings and they will be brought to book."

Sonowal has directed all deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to remain alert.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Sonowal and took stock of the situation.

He also expressed anguish over the incident and said strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

"Deeply anguished by civilian casualties in an attack in Upper Assam region. It is a reprehensible act of mindless violence. Spoke to Assam CM Shri @sarbanandsonwal regarding the incident and asked him to take strict possible action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime," he said.

Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, former chief minster Tarun Gogoi, opposition Congress state president Ripun Bora, AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam and the Assam Sahitya Sabha were among those who also denounced the incident.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a Twitter post, wondered if the attack was related to developments around the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

"Is this the outcome of recent NRC development," she questioned.
Banerjee strongly condemned the incident and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.

"Terrible news coming out of Assam. We strongly condemn the brutal attack in Tinsukia... We have no words to express our deep sorrow to the grieving families. The perpetrators must be punished at the very earliest," she added.