Source: The Sangai Express
Udalgur(Asssam), October 05:
At least seven persons were killed when police fired on a group of Bangladeshi migrants who tried to defy shoot-at-sight orders in troubled-torn districts of Darrang and Udalguri even as violent clashes between the immigrant workers and tribal Bodos claimed seven more lives.
The clashes that broke out on Friday over stealing of cattle have already claimed 16 lives.
With today's incidents the toll went up to 30.Police fired on a group of illegal migrants at Fakirapara as they tried to enter Darrang from neighbouring Nagaon and Morigaon districts refusing to retreat despite shoot-at-sight orders being in force'.
Five migrants were killed on the spot and several others injured, official sources said.
In another incident of police firing, two persons were killed at Tiyajhar in Udalguri district during the day.
Two bodies bearing severe injury marks were also recovered from Baksa district this afternoon, while five migrants were hacked to death and another critically injured by unidentified miscreants at Dimakuchi weekly market in Udalguri district, where they had gone to trade in dry fish.
Army staged flag marches in all the affected areas of Udalguri and Darrang districts and indefinite curfew continued in both the districts.
The army has deployed 10 companies in the two trouble-torn districts, the sources said.
Thousand of Bodos have fled their homes in panic and have taken shelter in temporary relief camps set up by the administration in five places, they said.
Udalguri Deputy Commissioner George Basurriatary has been transferred and SP Anup Kumar Singh suspended for dereliction of duty and has been replaced by Kamal Mahanta and AK Tiwari respectively.
Gogoi points at NDFB: A section ofNational Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), currently in a ceasefire agreement with the Centre, could be behind the ongoing clashes with Bangladeshi migrants in Udalguri and Darrang districts, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today.
"I have received reports that a section of NDFB cadres could be behind the 'ongoing violence and have directed the authorities to inquire into their possible involvement and if it is proved true, we will go to the extent of getting the ceasefire agreement cancelled," Gogoi said here.
NDFB cadres should be in their designated camps as per the ceasefire agreement and their alleged involvement in the violence was a matter of serious concern, he said.
Army and para-military forces have been deployed in the violence-affected districts and authorities have been directed "to take all possible measures to protect lives and properties of people," he said.
Rumours were floating and creating panic; Gogoi said and urged people not to believe them.
NDFB spokesman Gobinda Basumatary denied the outfit's involvement in the conflict and claimed it was the "conspiracy of some motivated political parties to gain political mileage".