Over 50,000 people have been affected in the spate of violence in the two districts since late on July 20,2012 Friday night, when workers of BPF, the ruling coalition partner in Assam, were killed at Namapara village by miscreants suspected to be Muslims. This led to attacks and counter-attacks. On Saturday morning, gunmen opened fire on the villagers at Duramari in Kokrajhar killing one person and injuring five. This again led to the killing of three Bodo tribals in Parugura village of Kokrajhar.
The violence has spread to neighbouring districts such as Chirang and turned into a rail blockade agitation as well. With hundreds of protesters protesting on railway tracks, six north-east bound trains have been cancelled while 18 others are said to have been affected. Many trains have been forced to halt for six to 10 hours at the New Jalpaiguri station in West Bengal and at other stations in Assam.
On Sunday and Monday, the violence continued.
The three days of violence have left 21 people dead in the region. Nearly 400 villages are said to be affected and even as shoot-at-sight orders remain in place in the region, the houses of many of those who fled were torched and burnt on July 24,2012 Tuesday morning.
Of the total 21 deaths, Kokrajhar accounted for 17 while neighbouring four persons died in Chirang district, to where the violence between minority immigrants and Bodo tribals spread.
Police said fresh arson was reported from Fakiragram, Serfanguri, Narabari, Gossaigaon, Dotoma, Mokrajan and Tulsibari areas where miscreants set ablaze abandoned houses.
The Assam Police says it has formed special peace committees to talk to the people.
"42 relief camps have been set up to take care of the more than 60,000 people affected in the violence"
To control the violence that began last Friday, the Army held flag march in the two districts and additional paramilitary forces were deployed in Bodoland Territorial Council(BTC).
BTC is governed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, has four districts - Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri (all bordering Bhutan)
Shoot at sight and indefinite curfew has been ordered in Kokrajhar district, while night curfew is on in Chirang and Dhubri districts. Army has been deployed in Kokrajhar and Dhubri.
The violence has spread to neighbouring districts such as Chirang and turned into a rail blockade agitation as well. With hundreds of protesters protesting on railway tracks, six north-east bound trains have been cancelled while 18 others are said to have been affected. Many trains have been forced to halt for six to 10 hours at the New Jalpaiguri station in West Bengal and at other stations in Assam.
On Sunday and Monday, the violence continued.
The three days of violence have left 21 people dead in the region. Nearly 400 villages are said to be affected and even as shoot-at-sight orders remain in place in the region, the houses of many of those who fled were torched and burnt on July 24,2012 Tuesday morning.
Of the total 21 deaths, Kokrajhar accounted for 17 while neighbouring four persons died in Chirang district, to where the violence between minority immigrants and Bodo tribals spread.
Police said fresh arson was reported from Fakiragram, Serfanguri, Narabari, Gossaigaon, Dotoma, Mokrajan and Tulsibari areas where miscreants set ablaze abandoned houses.
The Assam Police says it has formed special peace committees to talk to the people.
"42 relief camps have been set up to take care of the more than 60,000 people affected in the violence"
To control the violence that began last Friday, the Army held flag march in the two districts and additional paramilitary forces were deployed in Bodoland Territorial Council(BTC).
BTC is governed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, has four districts - Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri (all bordering Bhutan)
Shoot at sight and indefinite curfew has been ordered in Kokrajhar district, while night curfew is on in Chirang and Dhubri districts. Army has been deployed in Kokrajhar and Dhubri.
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