A day after mob violence left one person dead, clashes allegedly erupted between members of the Bodo and Adivasi communities in Assam’s Kokrajhar on Tuesday. Following the violence, the authorities deployed the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and temporarily suspended internet and mobile data services in two districts, officials said.
Appealing for calm, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma urged residents to maintain peace and cooperate with the administration to restore normalcy at the earliest.
Though currently in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, the chief minister said in a post on X that he was in constant touch with senior state officials and district authorities to closely monitor the situation. He also appealed to political parties and civil society groups to extend full cooperation in de-escalating tensions.
What led to the violence in Assam?
CM Sarma said arrangements were in place to deploy the Army if required to control the violence in the region. Right now, RAF units had already been moved into the affected areas following clashes and incidents of mob violence, he added.
According to a home department official, the violence was triggered late Monday night when a vehicle carrying three Bodo men allegedly hit two Adivasi persons on Mansingh Road. The three occupants were reportedly assaulted by local villagers and the vehicle was set on fire. One person died in the incident.
Tensions escalated further on Tuesday as members of both communities blocked a national highway near the Karigaon outpost, burning tyres and vandalising property. Officials said a few houses were damaged, a government office was set ablaze and the Karigaon police outpost was attacked.
Police resorted to a lathi charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Several people, including police personnel, sustained injuries during the clashes.
The RAF has been deployed to contain the situation and prevent further deterioration of law and order, officials said. Internet and mobile data services have been suspended in Kokrajhar and the neighbouring district of Chirang, the CM said citing concerns over the spread of rumours and inflammatory content.
‘Serious’ situation in region
Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Chief Hagrama Mohilary described the situation as “serious” but cautioned against misunderstanding between Bodos and Adivasis, noting that both communities have long coexisted in the area.
He said law and order was not under the jurisdiction of the BTC and that concerned agencies were working to bring the situation under control. “People have a right to protest, but it should be done in a democratic manner. Violence must be avoided,” Mohilary said.
Anticipating attempts to fuel unrest through social media, the Assam home department ordered the temporary suspension of internet and mobile data services of all providers in Kokrajhar and Chirang until further orders. Voice calls and fixed-line broadband services will remain operational.