Assam violence: Death toll climbs to 65, locals block NH 31

Four more persons fell victim to the fresh wave of violence in lower Assam districts, triggering protest by locals who blocked National Highway 31 at Beltoli on the Kokrajhar-Dhubri border today.

With four more people being killed, the death toll in the ethnic violence in Assam has climbed to 65.

In the worst-affected Kokrajhar district, three persons were killed and two others injured when some persons opened fire on a group of people at Ranibuli village late last night.

The two injured were rushed to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital.

Assam IGP (Law and Order) L R Bishnoi told PTI here that the dead belong to Lakhiganj in Dhubri district.

To protest the killing of the three persons who allegedly belong to the minority community, a group of 500 people blocked National Highway 31 at Beltoli.

Indefinite curfew has been reimposed in Kokrajhar district while round-the-clock curfew continues in neighbouring Chirang district where one more body was found early this morning.

The body was recovered from a field in Rajapara area, senior police officials said. A few houses were burnt down in Chirang but the timely action of police prevented any major violence last night, Bishnoi said. A person has been arrested in this connection.
"Security arrangements are in place to ensure that no more untoward incidents occur," Assam Police IGP (Bodoland Territorial Area Districts) S N Singh said today.

The Army continued flag marches this morning in the three districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri, hit by clashes between Bodo tribals and the minority community.

Meanwhile, a five-year-old in the Chhatipur LP School relief camp in Chirang died allegedly due to lack of timely medical attention, camp inmates said.

The child had been unwell for the past five days.

With this, the number of people who have died in the relief camps has risen to 14.