Asom violence: 7 dead, curfew in more areas

Guwahati, May 14 (UNI) The death toll in yesterday's ethnic violence in Tinsukia district of Asom reached seven today as the curfew was expanded to more areas, including the oil township of Digboi.

Official sources confirmed that six people died in the violence while one died in a road accident trying to bypass the curfew, restrictions.

The government, opposition parties and the ULFA has urged both the groups to restrain themselves, saying that the clash started completely due to confusion.

The Opposition, however, blamed the government for failure to tackle the situation while the ULFA termed it as a ''Congress strategy''. Tension had been mounting in the greater Digboi and Doomdoma areas, the sources said.

The tea garden labourers as well as Assamese speaking youths were trying to regroup and launch attack on each other even as security forces had been fanning out to the entire district.

According to Deputy Commissioner A K Afsar Hazarika, six people were killed in the group clash while 11 wee seriously injured, another person died in an accident.

others were seriously injured in the clash.

There were also report of ten youths remaining absconding so far.

Tension has also been brewing as rumours of attacks were further compounding the situation.

What began from a road blockade has now turned into a full-fledged battle between the tea garden labourers and the Assamese speaking youths with authorities contemplating issuing of shoot at sight order if situation did not improve by the evening, the sources added.

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