SabinaGuffey at 10:40, 14 December 2025

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{{Short description|Series of militant attacks}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
|title = December 2014 Assam violence
|partof = [[Insurgency in Northeast India]]
|location = [[Assam]], [[India]]
|date = {{Start date|2014|12|23|df=y}}
|fatalities = 85 (including retaliatory attacks)<ref name="HT_2014_launch">{{cite news|last1=Digambar Patowary|title=Assam violence: Securitymen launch offensive against Bodo militants|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/want-results-in-assam-centre-tells-army-10-developments-639929|access-date=26 December 2014|work=Hindustan Times|date=26 December 2014}}</ref>
|injuries =
|perps = {{ubl|[[National Democratic Front of Bodoland]] (Songbijit faction)| Adivasi (retaliatory)}}
|weapons = AK-series weapons<ref name="IT_2014_begins"/>
|motive =
}}
{{Terrorist attacks in India (since 2001)}}
In December 2014, a series of attacks by militants resulted in the deaths of more than 76 people in the [[Assam]] state in India.<ref name="IT_2014_begins">{{cite news|title=After Assam killings, all-out war begins against Bodo militants |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/northeast/story/assam-killing-operation-all-out-army-bodo-militants-232851-2014-12-25|access-date=26 December 2014 |work=Indian Today |date=26 December 2014}}</ref> The attacks took place in the [[Chirang district|Chirang]], [[Sonitpur district|Sonitpur]], and [[Kokrajhar district|Kokrajhar]] districts on 23 December 2014. They were attributed to the [[I. K. Songbijit|Songbijit]] faction of the [[National Democratic Front of Bodoland]] (NDFB(S)).

The [[Adivasi]] people of Assam are mostly [[Santal people|Santhals]]. The NDFB claims to represent the [[Bodo people]]; it has fought a [[Insurgency in Northeast India|secessionist war]] with the government for the establishment of a separate nation ([[Bodoland]]). Although a number of NDFB militants had agreed to a ceasefire and peace talks in the 2000s, the NDFB(S) faction, led by I K Songbijit, has refused to give up militancy.

In May 2014, the government attributed a [[May 2014 Assam violence|similar attack]] on [[Muslim]] migrants to the NDFB(S), but the NDFB denied its involvement. The December attacks, described as one of the worst massacres in the history of [[Northeast India|North-East India]], resulted in the deaths of 65 people by Bodo militants,<ref name="timesofindia"/><ref name="NDTV_2014_results">{{cite news|last1=Urmi Bhattacharjee, Deepshikha Ghosh|title=Want Results in Assam, Centre Tells Army: 10 Developments|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/want-results-in-assam-centre-tells-army-10-developments-639929|access-date=26 December 2014 |work=NDTV |date=26 December 2014}}</ref> and led to widespread protests by tribal people. The protests turned violent, leading to three more deaths at the hands of the police and a retaliatory attack of the Adivasi on Bodo villages, which resulted in the death of some Bodo people.<ref name="timesofindia"/><ref name="HT_2014_launch"/> On 26 December, the [[government of India]] declared the launch of Operation "All Out" to eliminate the NDFB(S) militants. It deployed an estimated 9,000 soldiers of the [[Indian Army]] and [[Central Reserve Police Force]].<ref name="IT_2014_begins"/><ref name="HT_2014_launch"/><ref name="NDTV_2014_results"/>

== Background ==

The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), a militant group which has been indulging in violence against immigrants since the late 1990s. The group signed a ceasefire with the Indian government in 2005, but one of its factions — NDFB(S), which is led by IK Songbijit — has opposed peace talks with the government. NDFB(S) warned of retaliation when the Assam Police launched an operation against them. On 21 December 2014, the Assam Police killed two NDFB militants.<ref name="Deccan Herald 2014">{{cite news | url=http://m.deccanherald.com/content/449552/assam-toll-rises-71-rajnath.html/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20141224182554/http://m.deccanherald.com/content/449552/assam-toll-rises-71-rajnath.html/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 December 2014 | title=Assam toll rises to 71, Rajnath reviews situation | work=Deccan Herald | date=24 December 2014 | access-date=24 December 2014 }}</ref>

== Violence ==
There has been armed conflict between the [[National Democratic Front of Boroland|NDFB]] and government and between [[National Democratic Front of Boroland|NDFB]] and [[Adivasi Cobra Force]]. After two NDFB cadre were killed by Assam Police, the NDFB militants attacked villagers at 6:25pm on 23 December 2014 in 3 districts of Assam: Kokrajhar, Sonitpur, and Chirang. They killed around 65 unarmed Adivasi, including 21 women and 18 children. The attacks happened during preparations for [[Christmas]]; most of the militants, as well as the Adivasi, victims were Christians.<ref name="timesofindia">{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Assam-violence-Adivasis-retaliate-kill-2-Bodos-torch-a-village/articleshow/45626042.cms? | title=Assam violence: Adivasis retaliate, kill 2 Bodos, torch a village | date=2014-12-24 | access-date=2014-12-26 | newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref><ref name="ht1">{{cite news | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/assam-violence-death-toll-in-bodo-militant-attack-in-state-rises-to-64/article1-1299916.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224085926/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/assam-violence-death-toll-in-bodo-militant-attack-in-state-rises-to-64/article1-1299916.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 December 2014 | title=Assam killings take on ethnic hue: Over 70 killed in Bodo attacks, 250 missing | date=2014-12-24 | newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

The next day, thousands of Adivasi people marched in protest. At [[Dhekiajuli]] in the Sonitpur district, the police fired rounds to disperse the crowd when the protest march turned violent. Police killed three Adivasi protestors. In retaliation, the Adivasi killed three [[Bodo people]] in a village near [[Behali, India|Behali]] in the Sonitpur district. The total death toll reached 85.<ref name="IT_2014_begins"/> Both communities burned houses and damaged property in different parts of the state.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/assam-toll-rises-as-violence-spreads-to-kokrajhar/article6724739.ece|title=Assam toll rises to 78, violence spreads to Kokrajhar|date=2014-12-25|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-09-24|agency=PTI|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The violence also spread to the [[Udalguri district]].<ref name="toll48">{{cite news|title=Death toll in Assam militant attacks rises to 48 with recovery of more bodies|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Death-toll-in-Assam-militant-attacks-rises-to-48-with-recovery-of-more-bodies/articleshow/45620522.cms|access-date=23 December 2014|agency=Times of India|publisher=ToI}}</ref><ref name="34killed">{{cite news|title=34 killed in NDFB(S) attacks in two Assam districts: Police |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/34-killed-in-ndfbs-attacks-in-two-assam-districts-police/articleshow/45620813.cms |date=23 December 2014 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |location=Guwahati |publisher=Economic Times |access-date=23 Dec 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Armed Indian tribal group kills villagers|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2014/12/deaths-reported-northeast-india-attack-20141223151344571967.html|access-date=23 December 2014|work=Al Jazeera|agency=Al Jazeera|issue=Central & South Asia|date=23 Dec 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Rajnath visits Guwahati, high alert sounded in Assam after Bodo militant attack kills 68 people|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rajnath-visits-guwahati-high-alert-sounded-in-assam-after-bodo-militant-attack-kills-68-people/519652-3-251.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226212242/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rajnath-visits-guwahati-high-alert-sounded-in-assam-after-bodo-militant-attack-kills-68-people/519652-3-251.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 December 2014|access-date=26 December 2014|work=IBNLive|date=24 December 2014}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==

A [[curfew]] was imposed in parts of the three districts. 55 companies of central paramilitary forces were deployed. The investigation was assigned to the [[National Investigation Agency]].<ref name="Deccan Herald 2014"/>

The [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Home Minister of India]], [[Rajnath Singh]], along with the [[Minister of State]] for Home Affairs, [[Kiren Rijiju]], and the [[Ministry of Tribal Affairs|Minister of Tribal Affairs]], [[Jual Oram]], visited the state and met Assam's [[Chief minister (India)|Chief Minister]] [[Tarun Gogoi]] and other officials. They reviewed the situation and agreed to necessary steps.<ref name="Deccan Herald 2014"/>

[[Prime Minister of India|Indian Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]] expressed grief and announced [[Ex gratia|ex-gratia]] compensation of {{INRConvert|2|l}} to each of the families of the dead and {{INRConvert|50|k}} to the seriously injured, while the [[Government of Assam|Assam government]] has announced ex-gratia of {{INRConvert|5|l}} to families of the dead and {{INRConvert|50|k}} to those injured. The [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]] also announced {{INRConvert|86|l}} as compensation to the Assam government.<ref name="Deccan Herald 2014"/> About 72,675 people had been shifted to relief camps by 26 December.<ref name="ToI_2014_vows"/>

=== Operation All Out ===
{{For|Operation All Out Kashmir launched in 2017|Operation All Out (Kashmir)}}

On 26 December 2014, the Indian Government declared that they had launched "Operation All Out" to eliminate the NDFB militants. This was declared by the Chief of the Army Staff, [[General Dalbir Singh Suhag]], after meeting the Indian Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, on 26 December. About 5,000 personnel from the paramilitary [[Central Reserve Police Force|CRPF]] and 4,620 from the Indian Army had already been deployed and ordered to eliminate the remaining militants, who were estimated to number around 80. In addition, around 2,000 personnel from the border force [[Sashastra Seema Bal]] were deployed to help maintain stability. The Indian Army has been using its helicopters to carry out aerial surveys of the affected regions.<ref name="IT_2014_begins"/><ref name="HT_2014_launch"/><ref name="NDTV_2014_results"/><ref name="ToI_2014_vows">{{cite news|title=Assam violence: Army chief vows to intensify operations against militants|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Assam-violence-Army-chief-vows-to-intensify-operations-against-militants/articleshow/45651729.cms|access-date=26 December 2014|work=The Times of India|date=26 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="ToI_2014_launch">{{cite news|last1=Prabin Kalita|title=Centre, state launch all-out offensive against militant group that carried out deadly Assam attack|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Centre-state-launch-all-out-offensive-against-militant-group-that-carried-out-deadly-Assam-attack/articleshow/45630675.cms|access-date=26 December 2014|work=The Times of India|date=24 December 2014}}</ref>

=== Peace between two communities ===
A joint delegation of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) and the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA), led by their presidents Pramode Boro and Raphael Kujur, visited the Bodo and Adivasi relief camps on Monday. They appealed to the inmates not to believe rumour-mongers, who were out to destroy unity among the people of the two communities. Both leaders demanded that the government ensure adequate security for the displaced villagers to return home and enable Bodo and Adivasi students to continue the new academic session beginning in January.

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Assam violence}}
[[Category:2014 mass murders]]
[[Category:2010s in Assam]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2014]]
[[Category:Bodo nationalism]]
[[Category:Kokrajhar district]]
[[Category:Sonitpur district]]
[[Category:Chirang district]]
[[Category:Crime in Assam]]
[[Category:Mass shootings in India]]
[[Category:December 2014 in India]]
[[Category:December 2014 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:2014 mass shootings in Asia]]
[[Category:2014 murders in India]]

December 2014 Assam violence - Revision history

SabinaGuffey at 10:40, 14 December 2025