Ethnic clashes continue in the North-East

Army on Monday intensified patrolling along the Assam-Meghalaya border after ethnic rivals indulged in fresh arson, defying curfew.

Reports said troops moved quickly at dawn after a group from Meghalaya side set a village on fire to retaliate attacks of the rivals who had torched several huts and trucks carrying essential commodities.

At least nine people have been killed over the past ten days since the ethnic clashes broke out between Garos and Rabhas along the border between Assam and Meghalaya rendering over 30,000 homeless.

The fight between the two communities started over possession of the area.

The Union government, which has been keeping watch on the situation, is expected to send a high official to assess the situation.

The ethnic clashes spilled over to other areas as the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) criticised the Assam Government for “failing to provide security to the people.”

On the other hand, the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) in Meghalaya has asked the people not to shelter “militants” who have “fuelled” the clash.

AASU president Shankar Prasad Rai, who visited Goalpara, alleged that there was total breakdown of the administration.

The flare-up took place after a Garo youth died when Assam Police personnel opened fire on a group of arsonists, who burnt down six houses of Rabha villagers.

The Garos retaliated by attacking the latter in the Bajengdoba area of Meghalaya.

PK Goswami, the deputy commissioner of Goalpara district, said, “We have imposed curfew to contain violence.”