Small tea growers attacked by NDFB(S) militants in Assam

TEZPUR: Two small tea growers were allegedly attacked by NDFB(S) militants near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Assam's Sonitpur district.

Tea planters were attacked and assaulted by a group of four armed militants at Mainasiri in Urahaloga last night as they had allegedly not paid the extortion money demanded by the outfit, Sonitpur Superintendent of Police Sanjukta Parashar said.

The tea planters, Baula Basumatary and Rugi Basumatary were admitted to the Rangapara hospital where their condition was stated to be serious by doctors, he said.

The outfit has fixed different extortion rates for people living in the area and had earlier beaten up eight small tea growers from Jogibeel and Mainasiri in Urahiloga village as they did not pay, police had said.

Parashar said combing operations are on to apprehend the militants.