Violence escalates in Assam, 30 killed

NEW DELHI: The situation in Assam has turned critical as communal clashes between the local tribals and Bangladeshi migrants continue in Udalguri and Darrang districts of the state. According to unconfirmed reports, over 30 people have been killed in clashes.

On Sunday the violence has spread to Rauta village in Udalguri district, about 80 kms east of Guwahati, where a large number of houses have been burnt down. The continuing violence which is spreading in these central districts has pushed the administration to extend the shoot at sight orders.

On Saturday the government had issued shoot at sight orders to paramilitary forces and the Army in order to curb the violence.

Since Friday, more than 200 houses were set ablaze in about six villages. Curfew was imposed in Darrang district last night after fresh incidents of arson and looting were reported. Army has been deployed in the area.

The governmnet has so far been tight-lipped on the number of casualties.

Shoot-at-sight orders were issued on Saturday in Assam's curfew-bound district of Udalguri, where seven people were killed and more than 50 injured in clashes between two communities even as a cluster of villages were set ablaze, officials said.

Violence broke out Friday between two communities in Rowta in Udalguri district, about 100 km north of Guwahati. "The situation is tense with the violence spreading to new areas in the district even as five more bodies were recovered, all of them shot at with poison-tipped arrows and hit with crude sharp implements," a police official said, requesting anonymity.

More than 50 people were wounded, some with bullets. "More than 200 houses were set ablaze in about six villages," the official said. Thousands of villagers have fled their homes and are now sheltering in makeshift relief camps set up the police.