50,000 Flee India’s Assam State Over Deadly Riots

Tens of thousands fled India’s Assam State after clashes between Muslim settlers and tribal Bodos left 19 dead and villages set ablaze.

“We have issued shoot-at-sight orders and clamped indefinite curfew to contain the growing violence following fresh incidents in various parts of the state,” a spokesperson with the Bodoland autonomous region, S.N. Singh, told the Press Trust of India. He said the orders were issued in Kokrajhar District.

Bodoland is located within Assam State located in northeastern India, which is said to have more than 200 ethnic and tribal groups. It has been hit hard by numerous revolts since India declared independence from Britain in 1947.

Officials in Kokrajhar told Reuters that approximately 50,000 villagers had led their homes in the affected areas and took shelter in nearby camps. An official said that 37 camps were opened to help displaced persons.

Riots and other clashes began Friday night when unknown men killed four people in Kokrajhar, which is primarily a Bodo area. The Bodos then attacked Muslim settlers to retaliate, claiming that Muslims were behind the killings.

“We can’t think of going back home. Our village is vulnerable to attacks and the government failed to give us protection,” resident Hiranya Musaharay told Reuters via telephone.

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