Communal tension returns to northern Assam

Tezpur, Oct 3 (UNI) Communal tension returned to northern Assam today with clashes reported between Muslims and ethnic Bodo tribe in Udalguri district, leaving several wounded and many houses razed to the ground.

Police said clashes started when a group of Muslim people reportedly attacked some Bodo tribesmen with arrows and other sharp weapons at Mohanpur in Udalguri district early this morning. The communal tension returned after one-and-half months of peace.

The attackers also took away one Rakesh Swargiyary, who was later rescued from Mohanpur LP School by the police. Rakesh and another person sustained severe injuries and were admitted to Tezpur Civil Hospital, while another eight of their group also suffered minor injuries. About 50 houses of people belonging to Muslim community were also burnt down in the area following the incident, with the neighbouring Bodo villagers alleging that the owners had themselves burned the houses to flare up communal tension.

Army and CRPF have been deployed to the disturbed areas to control the situation.

The Udalguri deputy commissioner and superintendent of police rushed to the spot.

Another incident of burning of houses of Bodo community people was reported from Burigami and Sapomari areas as a retaliatory action.

The tension had also reached Rowta, the epi-centre of the communal clashes that had broke out in mid-August of which today's incidents were constructed as after-actions.

Stone pelting incidents have been reported in Rowta between the two communities, with the administration going on an overdrive to check the situation.

Clashes between Muslim and Bodo community people had left one dead and several injured, with many houses burnt down, following the August 14 incident at Rowta, leading to curfew in the area and Army called in to control the situation.

Though no incidents were reported since August-end, suppressed tension prevailed in the areas.

UNI XC-SG KK DB1751