One more Bihari killed in Assam, toll rises to 30

The violence against Biharis in Assam has claimed one more life taking the toll to 30 even as curfew continued in Nalbari, Tinsukia and the oil township of Duliajan with the army being called out to control the situation.

A Bihari labourer of a brick kiln at Rongsul under Doomdooma police station in Tinsukia district was killed and another injured when a group of 40-50 persons armed with knives and sharp weapons attacked them, official sources said. The other workers fled the scene.

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Meanwhile, the indefinite curfew clamped on Wednesday following a mob attack continued in Tinsukia and Duliajan. Curfew was imposed in Nalbari from midnight.

Sporadic attacks on Bihari people, torching of huts, arson and extortion continued with anti-social elements taking advantage of the situation to indulge in unlawful activities.

The army, called out in the state on Wednesday, was continuing operations in the disturbed areas to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah denied the banned outfit's involvement in the ongoing violence and said if it had been so the situation would have been 'much more dangerous than it is now'. He also warned politicians of dire consequences if they attempted to protect the interests of Hindi-speaking people in Assam.