Title - Assam violence death toll 21, shoot-at-sight ordered

Guwahati : Ethnic violence continued in interior areas of Kokrajhar district today. With death toll reaching 21, the authorities issued shoot-at-sight orders and clamped indefinite curfew in the district, while the Army staged a flag march to instill confidence among the people.The police said four more bodies were recovered in Kokrajhar district during the day. Of the total 21 deaths, Kokrajhar accounted for 17, while four persons died in the neighbouring Chirang district.The police said fresh arson was reported from Fakiragram, Serfanguri, Narabari, Gossaigaon, Dotoma, Mokrajan and Tulsibari areas where miscreants set ablaze abandoned houses.A major trouble was quelled by the Army and the police when a group of more than 400 armed minority immigrants from Joypur tried to proceed towards Kokrajhar town. The police fired in the air and dispersed them.In another incident, miscreants set ablaze a camp of the disbanded Bodoland Liberation Tigers at Sapotgram.Shoot-at-sight orders have been issued and an indefinite curfew camped in Kokrajhar, while night curfew is on in Chirang and Dhubri districts. The Army has been deployed in Kokrajhar and Dhubri.Sources said around 18 companies of paramilitary forces had been deployed in lower Assam to combat the situation.Sources in Kokrajhar and Chirang district administrations said more than 50,000 villagers had taken shelter in various relief camps.In Kokrajhar district, nearly 40,000 persons have taken shelter in 35 relief camps set up by the government, while more than 10,000 persons have themselves taken shelter in various schools and government offices in Chirang as the government has not opened any official relief camp there.Two senior ministers, Rockybul Hussain and Nazrul Islam, who are touring the troubled areas, held a closed-door meeting with officials of the affected districts. Later, talking to reporters, they appealed to the people to maintain communal harmony and assured that strict action would be taken against miscreants.

"We are assuring from the government and the Bodoland Tribal Autonomous Districts (BTAD) side that all steps will be taken to provide security to the people of all communities. There is no need to panic," Hussain said. — PTI

Rajdhani stopped

The Rajdhani Express was stopped by some protesters in Kokrajhar on Monday. The train, however, later resumed its journey. Various other trains had to be stopped due to ongoing violence.

50,000 in shelters

Around 40,000 persons have taken shelter in 35 relief camps set up by the government in Kokrajhar district, while more than 10,000 persons have themselves taken shelter in various schools and govt offices in Chirang.