Violence resurfaced in Bodo-heartland of Assam as at least three persons have been killed in Kokrajhar district since November 10. The recent spate of killings came after a lull of two months when Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD), along with adjoining districts of Dhubri and Bongaigaon were rocked by a series of clashes, arson and killings between the indigenous Bodo tribe and illegal Bangladeshi settlers.
Police said one person was gunned down on November 10 in Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar district, which was followed by retaliatory attacks which claimed the life of a youth. on Monday, one more person was gunned down in Gossaigaon, taking the death toll to 3 in the recent spate of violence.
Following the killing, protestors blocked railway lines and laid seize of police station. The blockade was withdrawn after the deputy commissioner of Kokrajhar assured the protestors to nab the culprits soon. Police has detained few persons in connection to the recent killings.
Hagrama Mohilary, chief of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), which has territorial jurisdiction over the four districts that make up BTAD – Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri and derives power under the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution., termed the recent killings as handiwork of “anti-social elements” aiming at “disturbing peace” in the area.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday had a high-level meeting with top police officials, including director general of police, and reviewed the law and order scenario in the state. Gogoi directed the police to beef up security in BTAD and deal strictly with miscreants.
However, police did not like to link the recent killings to earlier riots and termed them as “sporadic incidents”.
