Kokrajhar, Jan 21: The Army has been deployed in sensitive areas of Assam’s Kokrajhar district following a flare-up of mob violence that left two people dead and sparked arson and street clashes, officials said on January 21. The deployment comes as authorities step up measures to prevent further deterioration of law and order.
According to a defence spokesperson, Army columns conducted joint night patrols with the district administration in Karigaon and nearby localities on Tuesday. A flag march has been planned for Wednesday as part of confidence-building efforts. At present, four Army columns have been stationed in the district, while additional security arrangements have been put in place in neighbouring Chirang district.
Officials maintained that the situation was under control, though tensions remained high. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said that preparations for Army deployment were in place, even as the Rapid Action Force had already been mobilised in response to the unrest.
The violence reportedly began late on Monday after a vehicle carrying three members of the Bodo community allegedly struck two Adivasi individuals on Mansingh Road near the Karigaon outpost. A home department official said the occupants of the vehicle were subsequently assaulted by villagers and the vehicle was set ablaze. One person died at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries on Tuesday. Three others are undergoing treatment in hospital.
Tensions escalated again on Tuesday when members of both communities blocked the national highway near the Karigaon outpost, burned tyres, torched a government office and attacked the local police outpost. Police resorted to baton charges and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Several people, including police personnel, sustained injuries during the clashes.
In response, the district administration opened two relief camps at Karigaon High School and Gwajanpuri Amanpara High School as residents fled their homes fearing further violence. Prohibitory orders have been enforced across Kokrajhar under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
As an additional precaution, mobile internet and data services have been suspended in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts to prevent the spread of misinformation and help maintain public order.
