Four more persons were killed in fresh outbreak of violence in lower Assam districts, triggering protest by locals who blocked National Highway 31 at Beltoli on the Kokrajhar-Dhubri border on Tuesday.

With the latest killing, the death toll in the violence in Assam has climbed to 73. The violence between Bodos and minorities has now claimed 47 lives in worst-hit Kokrajhar district, 17 in Chirang, 4 in Dhubri besides 5 killed in police firing last month, officials said.

In Kokrajhar district, three persons were killed and two others injured when some persons opened fire on a group of people at Ranibuli village late Monday night. The two injured were rushed to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital.

To protest the killing of the three persons who allegedly belong to the minority community, a group of 500 people blocked National Highway 31 at Beltoli.

Indefinite curfew has been reimposed in Kokrajhar district while round-the-clock curfew continues in neighbouring Chirang district where one more body was found early Tuesday morning.

The body was recovered from a field in Rajapara area, senior police officials said. A few houses were burnt down in Chirang but timely action of police prevented any major violence Monday night, Mr. Bishnoi said.

A person has been arrested in this connection.“Security arrangements are in place to ensure that no more untoward incidents occur,” Assam Police IGP (Bodoland Territorial Area Districts) S N Singh said Tuesday.

Army continued flag marches Tuesday morning in the three districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri, hit by clashes between Bodos and Muslims.

Meanwhile, a five-year-old in the Chhatipur LP School relief camp in Chirang died allegedly due to lack of timely medical attention, camp inmates said. The child had been unwell for the past five days. With this, the number of people who have died in the relief camps has risen to 14.

NDFB calls off ceasefire
DIMAPUR, AUG 7 (NPN): In a major setback, National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) Tuesday announced it has called off the ceasefire with the government.

In an e-mailed statement, signed by NDFB Boroland army “chief of army staff” “maj.” I.K. Songbjit said, “I, on behalf of National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and Boroland Army, declare to withdraw the ‘unilateral declaration’ for cessation of all forms of hostile activities’”.

Calling off the ceasefire, NDFB “army chief” appealed to the people to “prepare” for a “more effective armed struggle against colonialism and hegemony”.

NDFB also urged leaders, cadres, militias, over-ground workers and sympathizers not to be further “hoodwinked by Indian flattery into accepting the colonial rule.”