Fresh violence reported in Western Assam, vehicles torched, bridge burnt

Guwahati, Aug.16 (ANI): Fresh violence was reported in Assam's western Baksa district on Thursday.

According to reports, a mob was torching vehicles. Early this morning, a 1000-strong mob burnt a wooden bridge near Rangiya.

Police are said to have opened fire to disperse the mob. The army meanwhile has been deployed in Baksa district near Tamulpur.

A car was set ablaze at Gandhibari in Baksa district last night and its driver is missing. The car was returning from Baksa to Rangiya in neighbouring Kamrup (Rural) district.

Once news of the incident spread to Rangiya, angry local residents blocked National Highway-31 at Udiana Chowk, which falls under the Rangiya police station to protest against the incident.

A bus was also set ablaze while it was going towards Guwahati at Bhatkuchi. The wooden bridge at Kekahati was also damaged.

Senior police and civil officials are at the spot to take stock of the situation and to bring it under control.

The violence that claimed 77 lives since it began last month was believed to have been discipating.

The violence now appears to be spreading in the other parts of the state.

The Assam Government has claimed that around one lakh of the displaced persons have returned to their homes in recent days.

Violent clashes erupted in Assam in July after unidentified men killed four Bodo youths. In retaliation, armed Bodos - who dominate Kokrajhar and Chirang districts - attacked minority groups, suspecting them of being behind the deaths. (ANI)