Date:27/07/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/07/27/stories/2003072704630100.htm

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Situation at Assam town 'under control'

By Barun Das Gupta

GUWAHATI JULY 26. The situation at Kachubeel in Darrang district of Assam, where seven adivasis were killed in police firing and 17 injured in firing and clashes between adivasis and Bodos on Friday, was "tense but under control", district officials said.

Police resorted to firing after failing to disperse the armed adivasis and Bodos. The All-Assam Adivasi Students' Association (AAASA) had given a call for a bandh demanding recognition for adivasis as the Scheduled Tribes in Assam and opposing the proposed Bodo Territorial Council.

The clash started when the Bodos resisted the bandh. Despite the strong presence of the State police, the CRPF and the Army, groups of armed Adivasi youth were seen moving about today, fearing attacks by Bodos.

The AAASA president, Justin Lakra, alleged that some Bodo Liberation Tiger activists had also fired on the adivasis, along with the police.

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