New Delhi: Two days after the police open fired on a mob protesting an alleged army custodial death, tension in the violence hit Tinsukia district of Assam continues to simmer. At least ten people have been killed and several others injured in police firing so far.
Violence began four days ago after the army handed over the dead body of Ajit Mahanta, whom the Army had picked up under suspicion of being a linkman of the rebel outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
Protestors have blocked National Highway 52 for the past five days and are refusing to move unless the Indian army is pulled out of the area.
In a statement e-mailed to the local media, ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa claimed that Friday's incident had proved that the central and state government did not want a peaceful negotiated political settlement in Assam.
All Assam Students Union (AASU) President Sankar Prasad Rai and General Secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi said that the state government had failed to protect the lives of innocent people in the state.
This was evident from the killing of suspected ULFA linkman allegedly in army custody, followed by violence at Kakopathar and Makum.
ULFA and the AASU have called back-to-back 12-hour Assam bandhs on February 13 and 14 in protest against Friday's police firing on a mob.
Meanwhile, indefinite curfew remains to be in force in four towns in the district and army has held a flag march in the area. Senior police officials told CNN-IBN that the situation is under control now.
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