Curfew clamped in Dibrugarh

Sporadic violence during bandh called to demand death pelty for local businessman’s killers

From our Staff Correspondent

DIBRUGARH, August 24: Sporadic incidents of violence were reported during the 12-hour Dibrugarh district  bandh called today, forcing the administration to clamp curfew.

Police had a tough time as skirmishes between two groups were reported from different areas, besides stone pelting and road blockade.

The situation turned violent when some miscreants pelted stones on a motorcycle rally by bandh supporters. As a result, bandh supporters blocked NH-37 near Amolapatty intersection near the BJP office. The bandh supporters also took out rallies.

Strict vigil and preventive strategy by the police saved the situation from turning worse in town areas like Amolapatty, Kumaronichiga, Borpathar, Panchali, and  Boiragimath.

The bandh call was given in support of the demand for capital punishment to all the arrested killers of Bubul Dutta, a local businessman of Borpathar area and adequate compensation to his next of kin. Within 36 hours of Dutta’s murder, police had bbed all the killers. Dutta’s family members and friends along with local people also staged a dhar at the Sadar police station in support of similar demands.

The situation turned violent at Barbaruah when a section of miscreants started pelting stones at a place of worship which led to a scuffle between two youths of different groups. Both the youths sustained head injuries and were rushed to Assam Medical College and Hospital. According to medical sources, the condition of the youths are stable. The police detained three youths of the minority community at Barbaruah. All are in police custody. The district administration, sensing more trouble, then imposed indefinite curfew at Barbaruah from 3.30 pm.

The curfew has later extended to the entire Dibrugarh municipal area and its outskirts from 8 pm to 7 am as a precautiory measure, Superintendent of Police Ra Bhuyan said. He further said that the situation was tense but under control. Except for mild cane charge at Barbaruah, police had exercised utmost restraint in dealing with the situation.

Educatiol institutions, fincial establishments including banks, LIC, post office and other Central and State government offices were closed during the bandh hours. Vehicles, including suburban buses, remained off the roads.