Upper Assam simmers with anti-Bihari rage

A little before the bandh called by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) ended, a mob killed a Bihari and injured four others at Tiplai Colony in Tinsukia, police said. They added that a Bihari fish vendor was beaten up near the Deputy Commissioner’s office. In retaliation, some Biharis pelted stones at the Senairam Dungarmal High Secondary School. Tinsukia District Magistrate D. Das said the Army has been called out to prevent further violence.

In Duliajan, six AASU members were beaten up in a Bihari colony, following which shops owned by Biharis were set ablaze. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today visited some of the Bihari families whose houses were burnt last night. Later, based on the complaint from the affected families, he suspended the O-C of Dispur police station.

Gogoi held three meetings today with newspaper editors, senior citizens and representatives of political parties to find a solution to the violence.