Assam's Director General of Police Khagen Sarma, on Thursday said that nine people have been killed so far due to violence on the Assam-Nagaland border.
Tension on the border between the two states arose after two victims identified as Fosoi Gor, 25, and Chintamonee Barhoi, 64, who hailed from Golaghat District, were shot at by unidentified persons from Nagaland while they were protesting against kidnapping of two teenagers by suspected miscreants last week.
Sarma said that several reasons were responsible for the violence, including the presence of armed tribals.
"Some of the tribals right from the beginning (they have got) traditionally they hold arms. So, arms are more on the other side and those people who are plain don't carry arms in that way. That is the traditional way. That also aggravated the situation. There was firing by them and actually, till now nine persons got killed. We have recovered nine dead bodies and those are being identified," he said.
The situation turned tense after 22 people were injured in clashes between the police and protesters in Gologhat district of Assam on yesterday which led the security to be stepped up and army staged a flag march in Golaghat.
Over 1000 vehicles, bound for Manipur, passing through Nagaland were stranded at the national highway due to an indefinite blockade a few days ago as protests erupted due to the conflict.
Locals in the affected regions continue to live under uncertainty and insecurity due to the periodic clashes.
