Indefinite curfew was clamped in 25 villages under the Kalaigaon revenue circle in northern Assam’s Darrang district on Thursday, after clashes between two groups left 19 injured, five of them seriously, during the early hours.
Darrang Deputy Commissioner M.S. Manivannan told The Hindu that the clashes broke out as a group of people intercepted a few people passing through their village, mistaking them for cattle thieves. The other group, returning home after taking part in a religious function in Besimari, thought they were being waylaid by dacoits.
Probe orderedMr. Manivannan said a magisterial probe had been ordered into the incident. The five who sustained serious injuries had been admitted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and their condition was stable.
Tension ran high as people of the two groups belonged to different communities. The members of the two communities took to the streets demanding action. Fearing escalation of tensions, the district administration clamped prohibition under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code and imposed a curfew.