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Assam violence: Death toll rises to 41; 1.5 lakh displaced, many flee to neighbouring Bengal
Edited by Prasad Sanyal | Updated: July 25, 2012 16:37 IST
Guwahati: Assam is on an edge. There have been fresh clashes and cases of arson and more people have died in ethnic violence. Shoot-at-sight orders are in place in four districts.
Here are the latest developments:
Six more people have died today in clashes between minority Bangladeshi immigrants and Bodos in four districts of lower Assam; 41 people have died in the ethnic strife since Friday, July 20.
Entire villages have emptied out after houses were burnt down. Buses, cars and schools were set afire too.
In the last four days since clashes began, over 1.5 lakh people have had to flee their homes. Many of the homeless have taken shelter in government schools and buildings.
Over 10,000 people have reportedly escaped into neighbouring West Bengal. Trains have been targeted and for two days now, the entire North-East has been cut off by rail.
On Tuesday, some unidentified persons pelted stones and attacked the coaches of the Guwahati-bound Rajdhani at Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar district. Four coaches of the train were damaged; it was turned back to Coochbehar in West Bengal. No trains have been able to enter Assam since yesterday; Eight Assam-bound trains are stuck in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district. Some trains have halted at Guwahati station and haven't moved since. Three North-East bound trains from Kolkata have been cancelled today. Long haul trains like the Brahmputra Mail between Delhi and Dibrugarh have been cancelled.The Railways estimate that more than 30,000 train passengers were stranded in different places since Monday. Many of them have made alternative arrangements, some buying expensive air tickets. More than 10,000 passengers are, however, still stranded at stations, grateful for any food they can come by. Trucks with essential supplies are also stuck on highways that lead into Guwahati.
In Guwahati, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi held a meeting of government officials, including the chief secretary, to monitor the situation. Assam's police chief, J N Choudhury, visited the violence-hit districts and met top security officers. There has been curfew in the four districts since the weekend. Curfew was relaxed in Kokrajhar district from 8 am to 12 noon today, but has since been reimposed indefinitely. Curfew has also been extended indefinitely in Chirang and Dhubri districts where night curfew had been in place so far. The situation had been tense since early July when two migrants were killed. Two more were killed on July 19, but police failed to identify the killers. On Friday last, July 20 four former Bodo Liberation Tigers men were killed. The Bodos retaliated by attacking migrants.
Edited by Prasad Sanyal | Updated: July 25, 2012 16:37 IST
Guwahati: Assam is on an edge. There have been fresh clashes and cases of arson and more people have died in ethnic violence. Shoot-at-sight orders are in place in four districts.
Here are the latest developments:
Six more people have died today in clashes between minority Bangladeshi immigrants and Bodos in four districts of lower Assam; 41 people have died in the ethnic strife since Friday, July 20.
Entire villages have emptied out after houses were burnt down. Buses, cars and schools were set afire too.
In the last four days since clashes began, over 1.5 lakh people have had to flee their homes. Many of the homeless have taken shelter in government schools and buildings.
Over 10,000 people have reportedly escaped into neighbouring West Bengal. Trains have been targeted and for two days now, the entire North-East has been cut off by rail.
On Tuesday, some unidentified persons pelted stones and attacked the coaches of the Guwahati-bound Rajdhani at Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar district. Four coaches of the train were damaged; it was turned back to Coochbehar in West Bengal. No trains have been able to enter Assam since yesterday; Eight Assam-bound trains are stuck in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district. Some trains have halted at Guwahati station and haven't moved since. Three North-East bound trains from Kolkata have been cancelled today. Long haul trains like the Brahmputra Mail between Delhi and Dibrugarh have been cancelled.The Railways estimate that more than 30,000 train passengers were stranded in different places since Monday. Many of them have made alternative arrangements, some buying expensive air tickets. More than 10,000 passengers are, however, still stranded at stations, grateful for any food they can come by. Trucks with essential supplies are also stuck on highways that lead into Guwahati.
In Guwahati, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi held a meeting of government officials, including the chief secretary, to monitor the situation. Assam's police chief, J N Choudhury, visited the violence-hit districts and met top security officers. There has been curfew in the four districts since the weekend. Curfew was relaxed in Kokrajhar district from 8 am to 12 noon today, but has since been reimposed indefinitely. Curfew has also been extended indefinitely in Chirang and Dhubri districts where night curfew had been in place so far. The situation had been tense since early July when two migrants were killed. Two more were killed on July 19, but police failed to identify the killers. On Friday last, July 20 four former Bodo Liberation Tigers men were killed. The Bodos retaliated by attacking migrants.
