When Gaurav Sawant found Islamic State in Assam

Breaking the long spell of peace in Assam, suspected National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) (NDFB(S)) militants opened indiscriminate fire and lobbed grenades at a weekly market in Balazan Tiniali in Assam’s Kokrajhar district on Friday afternoon.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, wild speculation ensued. The death toll varied wildly before it was confirmed that 14 people, including one militant, had lost their lives in the brazen attack in broad daylight. There was also some confusion about the nature of the attack. While some like Times of India, News 18, and Zee News dubbed it a “terror attack”, others like Hindustan Times, and The Hindu went with “militant attack”. Technically speaking, referring to the attackers as terrorists instead of militants is not incorrect since civilians were targeted, not symbols of the State like police, or paramilitary forces.

Even as a clearer picture was emerging, India Today’s Gaurav Sawant jumped the gun by suggesting that the attack was the handiwork of the Islamic State (ISIS). Sawant compared it to ISIS attacks around the globe, which are also carried out in public places. As it turned out, the Kokrajhar attack had more to do with the local militant group, NDFB (S). “NDFB(S) is the prime suspect,” Sreejit T, Kokrajhar Additional Superintendent of Police, told Newslaundry. “Police is combing the area for more suspects.” NDFB (S) is a splinter group of the separatist group NDFB, and is headed by its non-Bodo leader IK Songbijit.