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India: Assam gripped in ethnic violence; five gunned down by security forces; Army called-in
July 25, 2012 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau
India: Assam gripped in ethnic violence; five gunned down by security forces; Army called-in
Assam (July 25, 2012): As per reports from Assam, the north-eastern state is severely gripped in ethnic violence. The tensions between ethnic-group called Bodos and migrant Muslim religious minority over control of land and settlements have been simmering for a long time.
Clashes broke out Friday night when four Bodo tribal were reportedly hacked to death by residents of a Muslim-dominated village in Kokrajhar.
“More than 50,000 terror-stricken people fled their homes in lower Assam’s Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts as raging ethnic clashes between Bodos and Muslims claimed four more lives on Tuesday. The violence that started on Friday has left 32 dead so far but state police chief JN Choudhury said it would take “three or four days” to restore order” reports Hindustan Times (HT).
India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is reported to have asked Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi to “do everything possible” to control the situation.
The Hindu reports that: “The Army was called out in Assam on Tuesday after the situation in the violence-torn Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts deteriorated. The rail link between the State and the rest of the country got snapped and miscreants among Bodos and Muslims torched houses in a large number of villages.”
“In a serious humanitarian crisis, more than 1,70,000 people have taken shelter in 121 relief camps” the Hindu report adds further.
“Security forces gunned down five rioters and seven more bodies were recovered in Kokrajhar district today, taking the death toll to 32.” reports the Telegraph India.
As per a Times of Assam news report: “In spite of Shoot at Sight orders and curfew imposed, hundreds of Armed men were found attacking villages and blazing them. Some of the incidents happened in front of the Police who was found more helpless than the fleeing people due to lack of sufficient force. About 500 villages have been destroyed by arson, said police while locals claim that the actual number is far more.”
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Related Topics: Ethnic conflict in Assam, Ethnic Violence, Indian Army, Indian State
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