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Rediff.com  » News » Assam: Communal riot toll mounts to 30

Assam: Communal riot toll mounts to 30

By K Anurag in Guwahati
October 05, 2008 20:25 IST
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The death toll in communal violence, which erupted in Assam on Thursday last, rose to 30 even as trouble spread to new areas in Udalguri and Darrang districts on Sunday despite heavy deployment of police and army personnel in sensitive areas.

The curfew remained in force for the third successive day on Sunday.

An official source informed that fresh clashes were reported from different parts of Udalguri and Darrang districts, forcing security forces to open fire at the mob.

Of the 30 persons killed so far, 15 died in firing by the security personnel.

Violent clashes between immigrant workers and tribal Bodos have so far rendered 70,000 people homeless in scores of villages in both districts. Over 500 houses on 19 villages were razed to ground.

About 60,000 affected people have taken shelter in relief camps in 32 relief camps in Udalguri district while another 10,000 have been lodged in 14 camps in Darrang.

Eleven columns of army personnel were deployed in affected areas in addition to five companies of paramilitary force and Assam Police battalions.

Opposition Asom Gana Parishad and Bharatiya Janata Party alleged that police had failed to control the situation as the violence was spreading to fresh areas in both the districts. The AGP has demanded adequate compensation from the families of dead and injured in the clashes and called upon the people from all the communities to maintain restraint.

The communal flare-up has already cast a spell of gloom on the state on the eve of Durga Puja festival as red alert has been sounded all over the state.

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K Anurag in Guwahati