Indefinite curfew in Assam's Manachar

Dhubri (

), July 7: Indefinite

was clamped from 7.30 pm on Wednesday in Mancachar and adjoining areas in Assam's Dhubri district, along the Meghalaya and Bangladesh border, following violence in which two policemen were injured and a

vehicle was set ablaze.

Trouble began on Friday when people from the Garo Hills in Meghalaya crossed the Kanu river and came to Mancachar for shopping. People from this side allegedly beat some of them after an altercation, official sources said. The next day, when people from Mancachar went to border village Monabari in Meghalaya, locals allegedly beat them up in a "retaliatory move".

Following the incident, a 'bandh' was observed in Mancachar yesterday and an indefinite economic blockade was later imposed, preventing movement of essential items to Meghalaya through the area. Tension escalated today when a body was found floating on the river Kanu and Meghalaya police did not allow it to be taken away, the sources said.

Accusing the Assam Police men of failing to ensure the recovery of the body, some people attacked the police injuring two and setting ablaze the vehicle of the sub-divisional police officer. To prevent deterioration of the situation, Dhubri district Deputy Commissioner Kumud Chandra Kalita imposed indefinite curfew from 7. 30 pm in Mancachar and its adjoining areas.

PTI