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Curfew in Kokrajhar after fresh violence
A Bodo youth was shot dead by miscreants at Telipara in Kokrajhar on Thursday morning, prompting the administration to clamp an infinite curfew in the district. HT reports.
A Bodo youth was shot dead by miscreants at Telipara in Kokrajhar on Thursday morning, prompting the administration to clamp an infinite curfew in the district.
With this, the death toll in the clashes between Bodo tribals and immigrant Muslims in the restive Assam district rose to six.
Violence had re-erupted in the district on November 10.
According to sources, miscreants shot the Bodo youth — identified as Nirisan Basmatary — at 7.30 on Thursday.
News of the killing escalated tension in the Bodo heartland, and soon, a vegetable vendor identified as Abul Kalam was stabbed at the Kokrajhar weekly vegetable market. He was admitted to hospital in a critical condition.
Police say the situation has stabilised now. “After the imposition of curfew, no incident of violence has occurred. The army staged flag marches in sensitive areas of the district,” said GP Singh, IGP (BTAD).
CM Tarun Gogoi, meanwhile, alleged that several prominent leaders — including those of Bodo militant outfits — were involved in stoking violence in Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) areas.
“It does not matter how big the person is. If the person is found provoking or stoking violence, he won’t be spared,” said Gogoi.
He also alleged that that militants affiliated to the National Democratic Front of Bodoland were involved in two recent incidents of violence.
PM Manmohan Singh rang up Gogoi Thursday seeking stern action against the forces behind renewed violence. Gogoi apprised Singh of the measures his government has taken to check communal flare-up. “This is part of a plan by divisive forces to destabilise India,” the prime minister said.
