Shoot-on-sight orders have been issued in Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Administered Districts (BTAD) as clashes between the Bodos and a religious minority group are escalating.
Inspector general of police, BTAD, SN Singh said, “So far, 18 people have been killed; 14 died in Kokrajhar district and four were killed in Chirang district. Also, eight have been reported missing.” Twenty-two companies of central paramilitary forces and the army have been deployed to restore calm, he said.
The army conducted a flag march in Chirang on Monday. Night curfew has been imposed in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Gossaigaon.
The violence erupted after some people killed four former members of an erstwhile rebel group to avenge the attack on two former leaders of the All-Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU).
The inmates of some relief camps held up the New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express for several hours in Kokrajhar district on Monday. The protestors demanded the arrest of miscreants who damaged their houses. An estimated 36,000 people were put up in 37 relief camps set up in the two districts. Thousands others fled to safer places.
The AAMSU had called a 12-hour bandh to protest against the killing of innocents. In Dhubri, at least three people were injured when bandh supporters clashed with locals before setting a hostel on fire. In Gauripur, the supporters ransacked the office of the Bodoland Peoples’ Front.
The Assam government rushed three cabinet ministers to the affected areas. “We appeal to the people to not believe in rumours. We also appeal to them to maintain peace and order,” forest minister Rockeybul Hussain said. The ministers held consultations jointly with the leaders of both communities.
