Title - Assam violence: Rajdhani Express attacked again

Guwahati: There has been some serious fallout of the violence in Kokrajhar district in Assam where 21 people have died so far. Nearly 50,000 people have fled their homes in and around 400 villages across Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Chirang districts. The government has set up 42 relief camps. Meanwhile, train services have been severely hit due to the rail blockades. At least six north-east bound trains have been cancelled and 18 others including the Rajdhani and Sampark Kranti have been affected.

On Tuesday, some unidentified persons pelted stones and attacked the coaches of the Guwahati-bound Rajdhani at Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar district. Around four bogies of the train got damaged in the attack. However, there were no reports of any casualties. Following the attack on the Rajdhani Express, the train was turned back and taken to Coochbehar. Though the incident took place on Tuesday morning itself, it was confirmed by Northeast Frontier Railway authorities in the afternoon. This came a day after the protestors stopped the Guwahati-New Delhi Rajdhani Express on Monday. The security forces had to clear the track for the train to reach its destination. As many as 14 companies of CRPF have been sent to control the situation. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who represents Assam in Rajya Sabha, has also promised all possible help. The Prime Minister called up Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi during the day and directed him to do everything possible to control the violence. On Tuesday, sporadic incidents of violence and arson were reported from Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts while the situation was tense in neighbouring Bongaigaon and Udalguri districts. Around 70 houses in four villages at Bijni in Chirang district were torched. There were reports of violence spreading to Sonitpur district in north central Assam also. Shoot at sight orders and indefinite curfew continued in Kokrajhar, where the army was deployed, while night curfew was in force in Dhubri and Chirang districts, official sources said.