Guwahati, April 24 (IANS) Sangsuma Khungur Bwismuthiary, the MP from Assam's Kokrajhar constituency and now the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) candidate, escaped an assassination attempt by tribal separatists Friday, police said. Two people were killed in the ambush.
Police said the attack took place around midday near village Panija in Kokrajhar district, about 360 km west of Guwahati.
'A convoy of about 50 vehicles led by Bwismuthiary was fired upon by heavily armed militants with automatic weapons in which a driver and a policeman were killed. Another person accompanying the candidate was injured,' a police official said.
Bwismuthiary was going from Kokrajhar to Panbari area in the same district to enquire about an incident of several houses belonging to his supporters were set ablaze Thursday night when the ambush took place.
'I had a narrow escape as my car was in the middle of the convoy, but at least six to seven vehicles were hit by bullets, including a car carrying some journalists,' Bwismuthiary told IANS over telephone.
'The attack was deadly and at least three to four vehicles of the convoy skidded off the road and fell in nearby ditches... It was a real miraculous close shave for all of us.'
Bwismuthiary blamed the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), which has declared a ceasefire with New Delhi, for the attack.
'The NDFB is responsible for the attack. I am sure the entire operation was masterminded by my political rivals,' he said.
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