34 hacked in Assam ethnic violence

Ethnic tensions in Assam’s Karbi Anglong hill district took a bloody turn today when suspected Dimasa tribal militants intercepted two buses and hacked to death 22 Karbi tribals on board. They then moved to a nearby village where they killed another 12 Karbi tribals.

At least 125 houses were torched in what officials are now calling one of the worst outbreaks of ethnic violence in the state. Shoot-at-sight orders have been issued and indefinite curfew imposed. Today’s attacks have taken the death toll to 59 since trouble erupted on September 26.

Official sources at Diphu, the Karbi Anglong district headquarters, said that suspected Dimasa militants waylaid two buses at Sarsing under Kheroni police station in Hamren sub-division. They pulled down the Karbi passengers and hacked them. Nine of the 22 killed were women, official sources said. Sarsing is about 170 km from Diphu.