Curfew in Assam's Hailakandi to last till 7 pm tomorrow

Hailakandi, May 11, 2019:

The curfew that was clamped in Hailakandi district yesterday after clashes rocked the town located in the Barak Valley of Assam will continue till 7 pm on Sunday, at the very least. Moreover, internet services in the district have also been suspended.

Many people had been injured after police had resorted to firing after an alleged communal clash took place in the town near the old mosque located at Marwari Patti in the hub of Hailakandi town. Of the ten persons who sustained bullet injuries, one person even lost his life. In total, 14 people have been injured.

Violence had erupted after the local Muslim community offered Namaz on the street outside the mosque and some locals took objection to that. One thing led to another, and it soon led to the break out of full-scale violence in the town.

Sources told Inside Northeast that tensions had been simmering in the area for quite a while. A few days on prior, on 7 May, some miscreants had damaged some vehicles parked in front of the mosque.

Hailakandi DC Keerthi Jalli has since come out and said that the tension was created by a few 'miscreants', but the sources have revealed that it is the result of long-simmering tensions between the communities.

Meanwhile, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal called on the people to maintain peace and harmony and promised strong action against perpetrators.

More to follow.