Death Toll From Assam’s Ethnic Clashes Rises to 14

Ethnic violence in Assam’s Kokrajhar has spread to neighbouring Chirang district as two people were killed by miscreants in Chirang district on Sunday, where death toll rise to 14.

Two people were shot dead at Mongolian market area near Bijni in Chirang district on Sunday, police said.

The dead persons were identified as Hasen Ali and Nurul Hussain.

Meanwhile, a DIG of Assam police and three others including an Additional SP of Kokrajhar district were injured during an attack by a mob at Fakiragram area in Kokrajhar district on Sunday morning.

The incident took place at Fakiragram area, when a mob attacked the convoy of Assam police where Assam police DIG Surendra Kumar, Kokrajhar district Additional SP Amar Choudhury and two others were injured.

“A mob blocked their convoy and demanded to release 10 people who were arrested in connection with the killing of four former Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) cadres,” a police official said.

Meanwhile, three more bodies including a women and a minor boy were recovered from the Gauranga river at Kathalbari area on Sunday. Miscreants set on fire at least 10 houses in Gosaigaon area on saturday night.

Thousands of people fled from their villages in Kokrajhar district and take shelter in relief camps.

The Kokrajhar district administration has already set up 26 relief camps in different places in the district where around 26,000 people have been taking shelter.

Army and para military forces have been deployed in the district as well.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi appealed to all bodo and non-bodo people for reatrainst. Two ministers of the state government, Forest minister Rockybul Hussain and Supply minister Dr Nazrul Islam will visit Kokrajhar on Monday.

Hemanta Kumar Nath

Hemanta Kumar Nath is a correspondent in Assam, India, who reports on local news in Assam, the north east Indian state.