Clashes in Kokrajhar: One dead as mobs clash; RAF deployed and internet suspended
Clashes in Kokrajhar: One dead as mobs clash; RAF deployed and internet suspended
Violence erupts in Kokrajhar between Bodos and Adivasis after a vehicle attack; RAF called in and internet services suspended to curb rumours.
Violence erupted in Kokrajhar district after a vehicle carrying people from one community allegedly hit two individuals from another community who were trying to stop them on Mansingh Road in Karigaon on Monday night. The vehicle was torched, and one person died in the incident. By Tuesday, tensions widened as residents blocked the National Highway adjacent to the Karigaon police outpost, first burning tyres and then attacking homes and property. A government office and the police outpost were set ablaze, complicating security efforts. The Rapid Action Force was deployed to contain the situation and prevent further deterioration of law and order, while authorities suspended internet and mobile data services in the entire district to curb the spread of inflammatory messages. Voice calls and fixed-line broadband remained functional.
Investigations indicate the victims were part of a road construction crew returning from a site inspection in the Aoudang area when the incident occurred. Officials have urged restraint and promised a thorough inquiry into the events, including the circumstances that led to a cattle-theft suspicion being used to justify violence. The disruption of communications was explained as a precaution to prevent rumours online, even as residents complained about the impact on everyday life and business.
Experts note that such clashes highlight enduring ethnic tensions in the region and the ongoing challenge for security forces to maintain peace in moments of flashpoint. Authorities are coordinating with local leaders to restore normalcy and ensure the safety of civilians amid ongoing investigations.
