Curfew on in Bodo areas, police firing toll climbs to five

Guwahati, Mar 15 (UNI) Curfew continued to be clamped in the troubled Bengtol and adjoining areas in Assam's Chirang district for the third day today, while the toll in Thursday's police firing reached five, with an injured person succumbing today.

Meanwhile, a 12-hour statewide bandh, called by the Rabiram-faction of the Bodoland People's Progressive Front (BPPF) to protest the police firing, was complete in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD), though life remained unaffected elsewhere.

Chirang district's Additional Superintendent of Police M Boro informed that the situation in Bengtol and adjoining areas was peaceful and no fresh violence had been reported.

He said the curfew could be relaxed tomorrow after reviewing the situation.

On the other hand, one of the persons hurt in Thursday's police firing died in the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) today, taking the toll to five.

Four persons were killed and eight others injured in Bengtol, when police had resorted to firing after baton charge failed to disperse the NDFB supporters and local people, who went on a rampage in a nearby Bodoland People's Front (BPF) youth wing office.

The crowd had gathered to protest the dismantling of an illegal National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) camp in Bengtol and had vent their anger on the BPF youth wing office, setting it on fire.

The NDFB, under ceasefire since June 2005, had breached ground rules with about 200 of its cadres staying in illegal camps, when they were bound to stay in the three designated camps.

The district administration's attempt to move the cadres in Bengtol camp was met with resistance, leading to the police firing incident.

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