29 dead in Assam clashes, Army called in

Udalgiri: Twenty-nine people have been killed in clashes between Bodos and Bangladeshi migrants in Udalguri district of Assam. The two communities first clashed on Friday after some Bangladeshi migrants tried to steal cattle from Bodo villages.

Soon clashes spread across the district affecting over 30,000 people in 30 villages.

The state administration has confirmed that five of the dead were killed in police firing. Several corpses have also been found in paddy fields and curfew has been imposed in the district.

Police said five migrants killed and another one critically injured by unidentified persons at Dimakuchi weekly market in Udalguri district. Police had to fire in air at Tiyajhar in Udalguri district to disperse a mob resulting in the injury of two persons.

Army has deployed 10 companies and has staged a flag march in the two riot-affected districts and four companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, Assam Rifles and state police reserve force have also been deployed.

Assam Home Secretary Subhash Das is meeting with security officials in Mongoldoi to review the situation.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that security forces have been asked to take all possible steps to stop the violence.

"Shoot-at-sight orders have also been issued," Gogoi said.

Earlier, on Sunday morning a mob attacked several migrants at Khoirbari area in the district in and burnt down 11 houses. In Darrang also a house was burnt down at Tangla but there was no casualty in any of the two incidents.

Eight burnt bodies were reportedly recovered on Saturday at the Bodo villages of Sonaripara and Jhargaon, which were attacked by an armed group of Bangladesh migrants.

After arson and looting was reported from the neighbouring Darrang district, the administration imposed curfew in Dalgaon and Dhola.

Two bodies were found on Friday from a village under Rowta police station.

District Deputy Commissioner George Basumatary has been transferred and Superintendent of Police Anup Kumar Singh suspended for allegedly failing to control the situation, official sources said. The duo has been replaced by Kamal Mahanta and AK Tiwari respectively.

(With inputs from Arijit Sen)