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Violence spreads in Assam, death toll 17

Kokrajhar (Assam), July 22
Violence in lower Assam's Kokrajhar spread to neighbouring Chirang district today where five persons were killed, even as the toll in the group clashes shot up to 17 in the two districts. Unidentified miscreants hacked to death three persons in Hasrao Bazar of Chirang district this evening, police said.

In another incident in the same district, two persons were shot dead by a gang at Mongolian Bazaar in Bijni town, they said. A vehicle was also set ablaze earlier in the district.

Meanwhile, in trouble-torn Kokrajhar district, a DIG-ranked police official and three others were injured in a mob attack, while the death toll in the district rose to 12 with the recovery of three more bodies.

IGP (Bodoland Territorial Administered Districts) S N Singh told PTI that DIG S Kumar and Kokrajhar Additional Superintendent of Police Amar Choudhury were on their way to assess the prevailing situation in Fakiragram area this afternoon when their convoy was blocked by a mob demanding the release of 10 people, held in connection with the killing of four former Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) cadre.

The police officials urged them to clear the way but the mob stoned the officials and other policemen accompanying them. Kumar was hit on the head and two of his personal security officers were also injured in the attack.

The police baton charged and fired in the air to disperse the crowd in which another person was injured, while vehicles of both officers were damaged, Singh said. — PTI