One killed in Assam, security beefed up

Guwahati, Nov 12 (IANS) Following the killing of a man by unknown assailants, a mob protesting the alleged murder laid siege to a police station in Assam’s Kokrajhar district Monday, police said. Security has been beefed up after the incident.

The killing took place at Bhumka under Tulsibeel police station.

The victim has been identified as Ali Hussain, police said.

Kokrajhar along with Udalguri, Baksa and Chirang districts comprise the Bodoland Territorial Areas Districts (BTAD), which is run by an elected autonomous council.

“Suspected miscreants killed a man in Bhumka today (Monday). We are investigating and have picked up 12 people for questioning,” Inspector General of Police (BTAD) G.P. Singh told IANS.

Singh said the incident was an isolated one and added that the situation is under control.

Some of the protesters had also blockaded railway lines at some places in the district but police dispersed them, he said.

Earlier, an alert had been sounded in Kokrajhar Friday after a man was shot dead at Badugaon under Gosaigaon police station Friday and another died after being attacked with sharp weapons the same day.

Following the incidents, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had asked the civil and police administrations to deal with the situation firmly and to ensure that such incidents did not recur.

Gogoi had also directed top officials of Assam Police, including the director general of police, to beef up security and to take firm action against those indulging in violence.

Kokrajhar district, along with neighbouring Baksa and Dhubri, had witnessed major violence between Bodos and Bengali-speaking Muslim settlers earlier this year that led to the killing of over 100 people and displaced over four lakh people.

Over 30,000 people, who were displaced during the violence, are still living in relief camps awaiting rehabilitation.

IANS 2012-11-12 16:34:17