Assam govt orders judicial probe into Goalpara incident; curfew on

Guwahati, Jan 3 (UNI) Indefinite curfew continued in Lakhipur area in Assam's Goalpara district since last evening after seven people were killed in two police firing incidents yesterday with the government today ordering a judicial probe into the incident.

Goalpara Superintendent of Police Abhijit Borah said the situation in the troubled areas was under control.

Curfew was on in Lakhipur area.

" No fresh incident of violence has taken place since last evening and we are monitoring the situation, " he added.

State Revenue Minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman visited the district and took stock of the situation.

Senior police officials, including IGP (Law and Order) and DGP, were already camping in the district.

The state government had also ordered a judicial enquiry into the police firing incidents of yesterday.

A compensation of Rs three lakh each to next to kin of those deceased and monetary compensation as per government norms to the injured was also announced.

Meanwhile, the Panchayat election, which had led to yesterday's incident, was postponed in the entire Goalpara district.

State Election Commission sources said the new date for holding of the polls would be fixed after reviewing the situation with the District Deputy Commissioner and other officials.

At least seven people had been killed in two instances of police firing in Lakhipur area yesterday when hundreds of people had gathered to enforce a 48-hour road blockade, which commenced yesterday.

Four persons were killed in the first firing at noon, while another three were killed in the second instance of police firing near the same spot later in the afternoon.

Several people, including police personnel, were injured in the mob frenzy, which preceded the firing incidents.

Several police and private vehicles were also burnt by the agitators.

Trouble had erupted when supporters of the Anarabha Samanay Raksha Manch, Goalpara, (Non-Rabha coordination committee), which sponsored road blockade, burnt down three police vehicles and a bus ferrying Panchayat poll personnel in the district.

The committee had called the blockade to protest the postponement of Panchayat polls in the Rabha-Hasong autonomous council areas also having a sizeable non-Rabha population.

The polls in these areas were scheduled for the second phase on January four.

UNI SG SJC DB1849