New Delhi: In a tragic incident, six villagers were shot to death in a botched operation carried by Army para commandos who were in wait for militants. Reportedly, the six dead victims were coal mine workers who were returning home in a van singing songs.

Soon after the incident, a village search party claimed the bodies and attacked soldiers leading to firing in which seven more civilians and one soldier died.

On Sunday, another civilian was killed in Mon, dominated by the Konyak tribe, when security forces repelled a mob attack on an Assam Rifles camp. It was one among several incidents of arson and rioting in the district since the previous night. Atleast 20 people were injured in the ambush and the violence that followed.

Army officials said the operation was planned following specific inputs about the movements of militants from Yung Aung faction of te proscribed NSC.