Nine killed in communal clashes in Assam’s Kokrajhar
July 21st, 2012 - 10:08 pm ICT by IANSGuwahati, July 21 (IANS) Nine people were killed in communal clashes in Assam’s Kokrajhar district since Thursday, the state government said Saturday, adding a dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed and additional paramilitary forces have been sought for the area.
The reports of spreading sporadic violence have been pouring in from different parts of the Lower Assam district.
“We have deployed forces in the district and asked for additional paramilitary forces to be deployed so that the tension cannot escalate. I have also asked the district administration to deal with the situation strictly,” Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told media persons here.
The district administration has imposed curfew in the whole district from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
According to the district administration sources, the violence started after unidentified gunmen attacked two student leaders - Mohibul Islam and Abdul Siddique Sheikh - at Magurbari Thursday night. Islam is the president of All Bodoland Minority Students’ Union (ABMSU), and Sheikh is the former president of Bilasipara unit of the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU).
Following the incident, four reformed militants were shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Joypur area under Kokrajhar police station Friday night, Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner Donald Gilsellon told IANS.
“In a retaliatory attack, a 60-year-old man was killed by unidentified assailants at Duramari area in the district early Saturday morning. Another four people were seriously injured in the incident,” he said.
A 14-year-old boy was also killed at Narabari area Saturday, while three more people were killed in a retaliatory attack in Paraura village, said Gilsellon.
Assam Transport Minister Chandan Brahma has announced Rs.3 lakh to the next of kin of each killed person and Rs.50,000 to those injured in the violence.
Meanwhile, several citizens’ forum and pressure groups have appealed to people to desist from violence and maintain the age-old communal harmony between the Bodos and non-Bodo communities in the district.
- Assam toll rises to 12, army called in (Second Lead) - Jul 22, 2012
- Assam toll rises to 14, army called in (Third Lead) - Jul 22, 2012
- Assam toll is 12, curfew continues - Jul 22, 2012
- Assam toll rises to 12, army called in (Lead) - Jul 22, 2012
- Assam toll now 18, shoot at sight orders in Kokrajhar (Lead) - Jul 23, 2012
- Uneasy calm in Assam, violence toll 40 - Jul 26, 2012
- Alert in ten Assam districts after clashes - Jul 23, 2012
- Fresh violence in Kokrajhar, three killed - Aug 07, 2012
- Tension in Assam, PM may visit Saturday, toll 41 (Lead) - Jul 26, 2012
- Assam violence: Army stages flag march, Chirang district tense (Lead) - Jul 25, 2012
- No fresh violence in Assam's Bodo areas, toll 45 - Jul 27, 2012
- Assam toll now 19, shoot at sight orders in Kokrajhar (Third Lead) - Jul 23, 2012
- Violence rages in Assam, death toll 25 (Second Lead) - Jul 24, 2012
- Assam toll now 19, shoot at sight orders in Kokrajhar (Second Lead) - Jul 23, 2012
- Assam violence: Tension continues, army stages flag march - Jul 25, 2012
Tags: administration sources, assam, chandan, citizens forum, communal clashes, deputy commissioner, district administration, dusk to dawn, guwahati, lakh, media persons, minority students, paramilitary forces, pressure groups, retaliatory attack, rs 50, siddique, sporadic violence, unidentified assailants, unidentified gunmen