Suspected B'deshis kill 3 tribals in encroachment attempt

Diphu, May 11 (UNI) Three tribal villagers were killed in an attempted land encroachment drive by suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators in Lonkaijan Bidyadhar Chakma Basti, under Diphu police station, in Asom's Karbi Anglong district on Wednesday according to delayed reports received today.

The incident occurred when a gang of 80-85 suspected infiltrators stormed into the Chakma tribe village.

The gang had come from Nagaon district and tried to evict the villagers. The same gang had, about a month ago, warned the villagers to leave the place and hand over the land to them.

As the group of suspected Bangladeshis arrived to carry out the 'eviction notice', the villagers resisted the move. The gang attacked the villagers with sharp weapons, killing three Chakmas, including a woman.

They have been identified as village headman Bidyadhar Chakma (80), Ratan Chakma (50) and his wife Muktamala Chakma (40). Three others, Dandapani Chakma (25), Sagasira Chakma (70) and Yudhamoti Chakma (50), were seriously injured.

A number of houses and property were also damaged in the attack.

The remote location of the village, which can be reached passing through a reserve forest, has caused delay in the news reaching the police and district authorities.

Meanwhile, four persons were arrested yesterday in connection with the attack.

Identified as Mohuruddin, Johuruddin, Nur Islam and Moinuddin, the four hailed from Islampur area in Nagaon, police sources said.

Paramilitary forces have been deployed in the area to prevent any further violence.

A similar attack on this Chakma village, with the intention of grabbing land, had occurred five years ago. However, the miscreants had failed at that time.

UNI