Assam: Curfew partially lifted in evening; agitators withdraw strike

Golaghat: The indefinite curfew imposed in Golaghat district on Thursday in the wake of Wednesday's border flare-up was relaxed for a few hours in the evening even as police fired in the air and burst tear gas shells to disperse protesters trying to block NH-39 at Numaligarh.

The curfew would be lifted from 6 am tomorrow after the seven agitating organisations decided to withdraw their indefinite stir in protest against border violence and alleged police inaction, an official spokesman of the district administration said.

During the day, marked by a 12-hour bandh called by opposition AGP and some other organisations besides the indefinite curfew, the Army continued its flag march in Golaghat town to maintain law and order.

"The seven organisations held talks with Golghat DC, SP and state PWD Minister Ajanta Neog. They finally decided to end their agitation and in return, the administration will lift the curfew," the official spokesperson said.

The official said the curfew was relaxed from 5:30 pm to 9 pm today and it will be lifted from 6 am tomorrow. A delegation of the seven organisations, which includes AJYCP, KMSS and ATTSA, will go to Guwahati tomorrow and meet Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. It will be facilitated by Neog, he said.

Earlier during the day, a large group of people tried to block the National Highway-39 with tree branches in defiance of the indefinite curfew clamped yesterday and threw stones at police vehicles damaging one of them and injuring a policeman.

The police said protesters shouted slogans against alleged firing by police late last night at Numaligarh and injury to an innocent person, an incident which had no official confirmation.

The police burst tear gas shells and fired in the air to disperse the protesters and none was injured. The Army staged flag marches from Golaghat town to Rangajan, Bokakhat and Numaligarh on trucks mounted with guns and red flags.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Thursday held a meeting with Assam and Nagaland Chief Ministers, where it was decided to work out a joint mechanism to defuse recurring tension along the border between the two states.