Fresh communal clashes in Assam claims one

Guwahati, Aug 16 (UNI) Parts of northern Assam continued to boil under communal tension after the recovery of a person's body of the minority community sparked fresh violence in Rowta today, leading to the death of another person.

Tension also spilled over into western Assam with the recovery of the bodies of a minority couple in Chirang district.

Amid the tensed situation continuing in Rowta in Darrang district after one person was killed and seven injured in communal clashes on Thursday, a body of a person belonging to the minority community was recovered from a pond today.

The minority community of the area, alleging it to be a communal murder, stopped passenger buses between Rowta and Mangaldoi and beat up several drivers and handymen since morning.

This resulted in a retaliation by other communities in Dalgaon area of the district, where one Baser Ali (56) succumbed to injuries as public beat up the people of the minority community.

With the mounting of tension, para-military forces have descended in Rowta, Dalgaon and adjoining areas, with the top officials, including DIG (North Assam) SN Singh visiting the place.

Meanwhile, the recovery of bodies of a minority couple staying in a camp for victims of ethnic clashes in Chirang district early this morning created tension in the area.

Minority bodies blocked the national highway 31 for several hours, alleging that the couple was murdered by local people.

The blockade was called off only after state Cabinet Minister Chandan Brahma visited the place to pacify the agitators and assured them of actions to trace the killers.

The area has a history of conflicts between minority people and local Bodo tribes, which had led to serious clashes in the past.

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