Fresh violence in Assam, curfew imposed

Fresh incidents of violence were reported in Assam’s Kamrup rural area Thursday and authorities imposed curfew in Rangiya sub-division of the district to bring the situation under control, an official said.

The army has staged a flag march in Rangiya to restore confidence of the people in the area freshly hit by violent.

“Curfew has been imposed in Rangiya sub-division of Kamrup district after unidentified people set ablaze many vehicles and a wooden bridge,” Director General of Assam Police Jayanto N. Choudhury told IANS.

“The situation is totally under control,” the police chief said.

Thursday’s violence in Rangiya was retaliatory for the Wednesday night incident when a car was set ablaze at Gandhibari in Baska district and its driver, Sahidul Hussain, reportedly went missing. The car was returning from Baksa to Rangiya, he said.

Angry locals blocked NH-31 at Udiana Chowk within the Rangiya police station jurisdiction since early morning to protest Wednesday night’s incident.

The mob went berserk torching seven vehicles, including a bus going to Guwahati at Bhatkuchi, and also burnt a wooden bridge at Kekahati, police said.

A vehicle of Rangiya sub-divisional officer Barnali Deka also came under attack but the officer was safe.

“We have been forced to use tear gas to disperse the crowd,” Choudhury said.

Senior police officials have rushed to Rangiya to take stock of the situation.