Guwahati:
At least 18 people have been killed as violence escalated in South Assam. The mob has also stopped Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express. The train has been stopped between Gosaigaon and Kokrajhar, all passengers are reported to be safe but tracks are still blocked.
The army and police are keeping a strict vigil in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts which have seen ethnic clashes between Bodos and immigrant communities since July 20.
Night curfew has been imposed with Section 144 CrPC in force in the entire district till further orders, Deputy Commissioner, Kokrajhar, Donald Gilfellon said. An alert has been sounded in 10 districts, officials said.
On Sunday, Inspector General of Police SN Singh told PTI that DIG S Kumar and Kokrajhar Additional Superintendent of Police Amar Choudhury were on their way to assess the situation in Fakiragram area on Sunday when their convoy was blocked by a mob demanding release of 10 people held in connection with the killing of four former Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) cadres. The police officials urged the mob to move out but were instead pelted with stones. Mr Kumar was hit on his head, while two of his personal security officers also got injured. The police resorted to lathicharge and finally opened fire to disperse the crowd in which another person was injured while the vehicles of both the DIG and ASP were damaged by the mob, Singh said.
The violence had also spread to Chirang district from Kokrajhar with two persons being shot dead in attacks and counter-attacks by Bodos and minority immigrants.
Additional forces have been rushed to the affected areas
(With PTI inputs)