Incident Summary:

10/02/2004: In the small town of Makri Jhoda, India, separatist militants fired at crowd in the marketplace, which resulted in fifteen deaths and dozens injured. Police suspected that the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) were behind these attacks.

GTD ID:
200410020005

When:
2004-10-02

Country:
India

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Assam

City:
Makri Jhoda

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity A market in the town.
Specific Description The market in Makri Jhoda was targeted.
Nationality of Target India
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Automatic Weapon
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information This was one of four related attacks (cf. 200410020005-06; 200410030001-02). This region is home to over 50 tribally based militant groups fighting for their independence and to prevent the exploitation of their resources by the federal government. This event was part of a recent upsurge in violence in the region due to a peace offer by the regional government and the fact that the 135th birthday anniversary of Indian national hero Mahatma Ghandi was approaching. There were six other incidents of shootings or explsions in the Assam region this day, with over 18 deaths in total. It was also the 18th anniversy of the founding of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) (suspected) No
United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) (suspected) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 15 Fatalities
Total Number of Fatalities 15
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured Unknown
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
Hussain, Wasbir, "Militant Attacks in India Claim 57 Lives," Associated Press, October 3, 2004.
"Round up: Four killed, 30 injured in fresh northeast Indian violence," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, October 1, 2004.
"Stern action against northeast terror: home minister," Indo-Asian News Service, October 3, 2004.