Villagers block road against Army 'atrocities'

Guwahati, July 23 (UNI) Thousands of villagers today blocked roads in Upper Asom's Dibrugarh district to protest the alleged atrocities perpetrated by the Army.

The Army faced much heat after armed personnel dressed in army fatigues, barged into some residences at Lejan Barua village under Barbarua police station in Dibrugarh district on July 15, and assaulted and molested women.

Protesters under the banner of Rastra Nirjatan Birudhi Aikya Mancha blocked roads at various places in Barbarua for over three hours in protest to the incident.

At least 27 organisations have extended support to the agitation.

The protesters submitted a memorandum to the government to punish the 'Army personnel' involved in the incident.

Among the other demands of the protesters were repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the North East, compensation to the victims and adequate security in the villages.

The Army had, however, denied that its personnel were involved in the incident, and had said ULFA activists had carried out the crime to malign the Army's image.

UNI