Curfew extended as Jorhat remains tense

Guwahati, May 19 (UNI) Curfew in Upper Assam's violence-hit town of Jorhat was extended today as tension over yesterday's clash between a section of pavement encroachers and members of a youth organisation continued to grip the city.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, hailing from Jorhat, had deputed Cabinet Ministers Pradyut Bardoloi and Prithbi Majhi to take stock of the situation there. Police in Jorhat claimed the situation to be tense but under control.

So far three people were arrested. Five people, including four photo journalists, were injured when a section of pavement encroachers along the Old Balibat line in the main thoroughfare in the city assaulted them while they were taking video footage and photographs of encroachment on the pavement.

A member of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), which had launched clean Jorhat drive, was also injured in the attack.

Jorhat district unit of All Asam Students Union (AASU) had called for a 12-hour Jorhat bandh tomorrow in protest against attacks on photo journalists and the AJYCP member demanding arrest of the culprits behind the incident.

UNI XC SJC YA RN1636