BTAD, along with adjoining districts of Dhubri and Bongaigoan witnessed violent clashes between indigenous Bodo tribe and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the months of July to September which resulted in the death of nearly 100 persons
With no let-up in violent activities in Bodoland, indefinite curfew has been clamped in Gossaigaon and Kokrajhar sub-divisions on Thursday. In an attempt to restore peace, Army, which was called in on Wednesday evening, also staged flag-marches in the disturbed and sensitive areas.
On Thursday one person was shot dead at Telipara near Gossaigaon and another person was seriously injured in Kokrajhar when he was attacked with sharp weapons by a group of miscreants at Kokrajhar weekly bazaar in the morning, said police sources. With this, the total death toll in the recent spate of killings, which has been continuing since November 10, went up to six and another three persons have been injured, with one of them in critical stage. Curfew was clamped in Kokrajhar and Gossaigaon sub-divisions soon after on Thursday’s twin incidents in the morning.
On Tuesday, in a similar kind of incident a tea planter cum hotelier was shot dead by suspected National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) near Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Sonitpur district on Monday.
Security has been beefed up in Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD), which comprises of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri districts. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi yesterday evening had a high-level meeting with director general of police and other senior police officials. It is learnt that Gogoi asked police to go all out against NDFB militants and seize illegal arms that many former militants carry in BTAD. Gogoi said the recent killings were handiwork of a third force which did not want restoration of peace in Bodoland.
“Yes, the situation has deteriorated in Bodoland suddenly. There are some forces which do not want peace to return are behind the present violence. I have asked the police to deal sternly against those forces,” said Gogoi.
BTAD, along with adjoining districts of Dhubri and Bongaigoan witnessed violent clashes between indigenous Bodo tribe and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the months of July to September which resulted in the death of nearly 100 persons.
