Tribals clash on Assam-Meghalaya border, nine killed

GUWAHATI - Clashes between Garo and Rabha tribals along the Assam-Meghalaya boundary showed no signs of respite with the death toll rising to nine following the death of two more persons.

According to official sources, two persons were killed in a group clash at village Gendabari under Agia police station in Goalpara district, while several houses were set afire in two villages in the same area.

With this, while five persons have been killed in the clashes on the Assam side, four have died in the East Garo Hills district of Meghalaya since January 2.

Both states have rushed in more forces, including the BSF, CRPF and SSB, while the Army has also sent in forces to help the civil administration control the situation.

Earlier, Union Minister Agatha Sangma and her father, former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma, called up Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Home Secretary G K Pillai after which five companies - around 600 personnel - were rushed to the state boundary.

The Union Home Ministry has asked both the state governments to take immediate action.

Meanwhile, the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU) has flayed the Assam Government for “failing to provide security to the people” in the ethnic violence hit Assam-Meghalaya border, while the Garo Students Union (GSU) in Meghalaya appealed to the people not to shelter militants who have “fuelled” the clash. (ANI)