Assam violence: 7-year-old boy shot 7 times

GUWAHATI: Seven-year-old Kalu Todu, who is battling for his life at Gauhati Medical College Hospital ( GMCH), took seven bullets as Bodo militants went on rampage in Assam's Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts on Tuesday.

He is one of the 17 wounded civilians, mostly Adivasis, brought to the city on Wednesday for treatment.

Todu was standing on the doorstep of his small house in Pakriguri village, eight kilometers from Kokrajhar town, when militants fired. His mother fell to the bullets.

He was shot in his face, elbow, waist, hand and is currently under sedation at GMCH's trauma centre.

"His elder brother cremated his mother, who died while being taken to the hospital on Thursday. She was drying hay when militants fired. The rest of my children are at home. I had to bring Kalu to Guwahati for treatment," said Som Todu, the boy's father.

Another wounded civilian Rani Basumatary (50) was attacked with a machete when her husband had gone out to collect firewood. This was perhaps a retaliatory attack on the Bodo community.

"They burned down our house. We are from Santipur village in Chirang district. We have lost everything," said Biswanath Basumatary, Rani's husband.

Montu Hemron's sister-in-law was shot in her face. Montu, from Sonajoli village in Sonitpur district, lost his mother and younger brother to Tuesday's carnage.

"We are Christians and, on Christmas, we cremated our dead. My brother was shot in the back while being asked by the gunmen to take a tour of the village," said Hemron.