Kakopathar Killings or the Kakopathar Massacre[1][2] took place in Assam during 2006 when the Indian army opened fire at peaceful protesters at Kakopathar in Assam, killing at least 10 people.[3]
They were protesting against the custodial-death of a villager who was arrested by the army. Kakopathar and many areas of rural Upper Assam is supposedly an ULFA stronghold and the common people have faced army atrocities during counter-insurgency operations since the Assamese Separatist Movement started in 1979. Arabinda Rajkhowa, the chairman of United Liberation Front of Asom compared it with the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.[4]
A strong wave or pro-ULFA sentiments spread across Assam after this incident and many parts of upper Assam saw spontaneous protests of people.[4] The popular sentiments gave strength to a considerably weakened ULFA in Assam.[5]