Polls apart, ethnic tension also behind Assam violence
14 Feb 2013 2:02 AM GMT
It’s now emerging that the latest violence in Assam was not just poll related but a fallout of the ethnic tension prevailing in Goalpara and Kamrup districts of the state involving the Rabha Hasong community and illegal immigrants in the area. According to an agency report from Guwahati, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday admitted his government’s lapses during the panchayat poll. The violence killed 19 people.
‘While 13 of them were killed due to firing by police and security forces, six others were killed in attacks by miscreants,’ Gogoi said. Security personnel resorted to firing after a mob attacked officials in Goalpara, who were in the area to conduct the third round of polling on Tuesday.
Violence also took place in Kamrup, but no one died there. The Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) areas fall in the two districts. ‘AGP and BJP have condemned me for deciding to hold panchayat polls. The AGP, when in power, never held panchayat polls in Assam,’ said Gogoi.
Gogoi said that he was going to request the CBI to investigate the ‘role of the political forces in instigation violence. He said the situation was under control as of now and that the last incident of violence was reported from the areas at 11.20 pm on Tuesday.
‘While 13 of them were killed due to firing by police and security forces, six others were killed in attacks by miscreants,’ Gogoi said. Security personnel resorted to firing after a mob attacked officials in Goalpara, who were in the area to conduct the third round of polling on Tuesday.
Violence also took place in Kamrup, but no one died there. The Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) areas fall in the two districts. ‘AGP and BJP have condemned me for deciding to hold panchayat polls. The AGP, when in power, never held panchayat polls in Assam,’ said Gogoi.
Gogoi said that he was going to request the CBI to investigate the ‘role of the political forces in instigation violence. He said the situation was under control as of now and that the last incident of violence was reported from the areas at 11.20 pm on Tuesday.
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