Curfew imposed after disturbances during bandh

A bandh called in Assam’s Dibrugarh district today saw clashes between two groups leading to the imposition of indefinite curfew in one police station area and night curfew in another, an official said.

The bandh was called by several organisations to protest against the killing of the businessman Babul Dutta in the district on Thursday and demanding exemplary punishment to the three persons arrested the next day for their alleged involvement in it.

A large procession, which was taken out here this morning by the protestors, turned violent as a group of people, belonging to the community of the arrested persons, threw stones at the rallyists.

The police resorted to lathicharge, bursting tear gas shells and finally fired in the air to disperse the mob.

Senior police officials, including Superintendent of Police Rana Bhuyan, rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner M S Mannivannan said indefinite curfew has been imposed in Borbora police station area following incidents of stone throwing and violence this afternoon.

Night curfew, he said, will be in force in Dibrugarh sadar police station area from 7 pm today to 6 am tomorrow to prevent any further untoward incidents.

Bhuyan said the situation, though tense was now under control.

The situation was being closely monitored, he added.