Assam: Shoot-at-sight orders issued, strike on

Shillong: Shoot-at-sight orders were issued on the Assam side and curfew remained clamped on the inter-state border with Meghalaya as the toll in the ethnic strife at Goalpara-East Garo Hills rose to 10.

Official sources said shoot-at-sight orders were issued by the Assam government after a high-level security meeting at Dispur on Sunday night.

Goalpara Deputy Commissioner P K Goswami said over phone that two bodies were recovered on the Assam side on Sunday evening, taking the toll in the ethnic clash between the Rabhas and Garos to 10.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma blamed Assam government's delay in rushing troops for the bloodshead between Garo and Rabha communities that killed 10 and displaced thousands along the border

East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said Garo-dominated Chigism, Kaldang and Kasikgara villages in Assam were attacked yesterday and 200 Garo women and children fled to East Garo Hills and sought refuge at Hudakona primary school compound during the night.

They were shifted to relief camps by army troops, who arrived on the scene early on Monday.

esides, a vehicle carrying relief material was also torched injuring 11 people, two of them critically at Paikan in Goalpara.

Following the arson attacks on the Garo villages, a mob frenzy began to build up since yesterday and Gendabari Rabha village on the Meghalaya side was set ablaze during the day.

Security forces with the help of army moved in swiftly and cut off all entry and exit routes between the two districts to prevent any escalation of violence, Bakshi said.

In view of the incidents, curfew remained clamped at Resbulpara subdivision of East Garo Hills and in the four police station areas of Dudhmoi, Krishnai, Dhupdhara and Rangajuli of Assam, official sources said.

Security forces have detained several arsonists from both Assam and Meghalaya and taken them under preventive detention.

Official sources said a team of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs team led by joint secretary Sambhu Singh reached the border and will hold a review meeting at Resubelpara during the day.

He would later hold another meeting at Guwahati, the sources said.