Assam-Meghalaya border toll rises to 7

Over 20,000 persons,most of them Rabha tribals,have taken shelter in 26 relief camps in Goalpara district,while about 4,000 people have been lodged in camps in East Garo Hills district,sources said.

Several ministers and officials from both states Goalpara district SP Louis Aind said former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma and his daughter and Union Minister of State for Rural Development Agatha Sangma had to be rescued by police after inmates of a relief camp gheraoed them and refused to let them go. The incident took place in a relief camp at Chota-Matia under Dudhnoi police station when the police had to resort to lathicharge to rescue the Sangmas.

Meanwhile,Meghalaya governor R S Mooshahary on Friday called for a halt to the mutually destructive violence between the Rabha and Garo communities. Expressing deep distress,Mooshahary in a statement in Shillong said,It is unfortunate that these two tribes who have common ethnic origin and bound by tradition and custom are clashing with each other. There is no doubt that it is a case of misunderstanding fuelled by rumours and mischief-makers and it has already caused great sufferings.