Assam: Violence engulfs two districts, death toll 14

Violence in lower Assam's Kokrajhar spread to neighbouring Chirang district, where two people were shot dead on Sunday and the toll in attacks between Bodos and minority immigrants shot up to 14 in the two districts.

Unidentified miscreants fired at Mongolian Bazaar in Bijni town of Chirang on Sunday evening killing two persons, said the police. A vehicle was also set ablaze.

In trouble-torn Kokrajhar district, a Deputy Inspector General-ranked police official and three others were injured in mob attack, while the death toll in the district reached 12, after three more bodies were recovered.

Inspector General of Police (Bodoland Territorial Administered Districts) S N Singh told PTI that DIG S Kumar and Kokrajhar Additional Superintendent of Police Amar Choudhury were on their way to assess the prevailing situation in Fakiragram area on Sunday, when their convoy was blocked by a mob demanding the release of 10 people, held in connection with the killing of four former Bodo Liberation Tigers cadres.

The police officials urged them to clear the way, but the mob pelted stones at the officials and other policemen accompanying them. Kumar was hit on his head and two of his personal security officers also got injured in the attack.

The police baton charged and finally opened fire to disperse the crowd, in which another person was injured, while vehicles of both officers were damaged by the mob, Singh said.

Night curfew was re-imposed from 6 pm on Sunday to 6 am on Monday, while Section 144 CrPC will be in force in the entire district till further orders, Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner Donald Gilfellon said.

The Kokrajhar administration has set up 37 relief camps where nearly 35,000 people have taken shelter, he added.

The violence in the district was triggered with the firing on two student leaders who were critically injured -- Mohibul Islam of All Bodoland Minority Students' Union and Abdul Siddique Sheikh of All Assam Minority Students' Union.

In a retaliatory attack, four former BLT cadres were killed on Friday night. This led to further attacks and counter-attacks, resulting in the deaths.