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2016 Kokrajhar shooting

On 5 August 2016, armed militants opened fire and threw grenades at a market in Balajan Tiniali near Kokrajhar, Assam, India, killing fourteen people and injuring sixteen others.

Illustrative

Overview

On 5 August 2016, a group of militants attacked a market in Balajan Tiniali, near the town of Kokrajhar in Assam, India. The attack resulted in fourteen deaths and sixteen injuries among people present at the market.

The Attack

As many as six attackers arrived at the market in a rickshaw before opening fire on the crowd and throwing grenades into it. Following the assault, five of the six attackers fled the scene, while the remaining attacker was killed by security forces responding to the incident. AK-56 and AK-47 rifles were recovered at the site of the attack after the attackers had departed.

Response

The Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, condemned the attack, describing it as "cowardly and dastardly." In response to the incident, the state government announced compensation for those affected: Rs 5 lakh for the relatives of those killed, Rs one lakh for individuals who were critically injured, and Rs 20,000 for those who sustained minor injuries.

Key facts

Victims
On file
Date
2016
Location
Balajan Tiniali market, near Kokrajhar
Case status
unsolved

Case timeline

  1. 2016-08-05

    Militants opened fire and threw grenades at a market in Balajan Tiniali, near Kokrajhar, Assam, killing fourteen people and injuring sixteen others.

  2. 2016-08-05

    Security forces killed one attacker at the scene; five other attackers fled. AK-56 and AK-47 rifles were recovered at the site.

Best coverage

No coverage has been attached to this file yet.

People

  • Sarbananda Sonowal

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Chief Minister of Assam who condemned the attack and announced compensation for victims and their families

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On 5 August 2016, armed militants opened fire and threw grenades at a market in Balajan Tiniali near Kokrajhar, Assam, India, killing fourteen people and injuring sixteen others.
Where did the shooting happen?
Balajan Tiniali market, near Kokrajhar.
What is the current status of the case?
Status: unsolved.

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDIC2016 Kokrajhar shootingWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — ABC NewsABC News · 2026-07-10
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — express.co.ukexpress.co.uk · 2026-07-10

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