Clashes erupt between Bodo and Adivasi communities in Assam’s Kokrajhar; one killed, RAF deployed

Guwahati: Tension gripped Assam’s Kokrajhar district on Tuesday after violent clashes broke out between members of the Bodo and Adivasi communities, leaving one person dead and several others injured.

In response to the deteriorating law-and-order situation, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed in sensitive areas, while mobile internet services have been temporarily suspended in Kokrajhar and neighbouring Chirang district.

According to officials, the violence was triggered late on Monday night following a road accident under the Karigaon police outpost limits. A vehicle carrying three Bodo men allegedly hit two Adivasi individuals on Mansing Road.

The incident quickly escalated, with nearby villagers reportedly attacking the occupants of the vehicle. The vehicle was set on fire, and one person succumbed to injuries during the unrest, officials confirmed.

The situation further worsened on Tuesday as members of both communities gathered near the Karigaon police outpost and blocked the national highway, disrupting traffic. Protesters set tyres on fire and allegedly torched a few houses in the area.

In a major escalation, a government office was also set ablaze, and the Karigaon police outpost came under attack, forcing security forces to step in to regain control. Senior police officials said the RAF was deployed to prevent further violence and restore normalcy.

Additional police forces have also been stationed across vulnerable pockets of the district. As a precautionary measure to curb the spread of rumours and inflammatory content, the Assam government ordered the suspension of mobile internet services in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts. However, authorities clarified that broadband and fixed-line telephone services would continue to function.

The state government has appealed to residents to maintain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands. “Strict action will be taken against those involved in violence and arson,” a senior official said, adding that peace committee meetings were being held at the local level to defuse tensions between the communities.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is currently abroad in Switzerland, said in a social media post that he is in constant touch with senior officials monitoring the situation on the ground. He urged citizens to cooperate with the administration to ensure peace and stability in the region.

Kokrajhar, which falls under the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), has a history of ethnic tensions involving different communities. Authorities said they are keeping a close watch on developments and will take all necessary measures to prevent the violence from spreading to other parts of the state.

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