New Delhi:
With violence at the Assam-Nagaland border worsening, the Army conducted a flag march in Assam's Golaghat district this morning.
Violence-hit Golaghat is totally shut today, after two days of clashes between the police and the protesters in which three people died, two of them allegedly from bullet injuries in firing by the police.
The Centre has asked for a report and Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju will meet chief ministers of both states in Guwahati today. He will also visit Golaghat district to take stock of the situation.
"We are here to assist the state government. We sent additional forces as demanded by the state government. Now it is for the state government to use to forces... This is matter to solve between two state governments and Centre has to see," Mr Rijiju said before leaving for Guwahati.
The situation is tense amid growing anger at police action against protesters; on Tuesday, the police had opened fire, after using batons and tear gas, at student protesters blocking the National Highway that leads to Nagaland.
21 people were injured and one was crushed to death under a truck during the clash. The police had asserted that no one had been injured in the firing; they claimed that they had used rubber bullets to control the mob. One constable has been suspended over the death of the protester.
Angry protesters have since then blocked the National Highway 37 by burning tyres and felling trees at several sites on the road. Trucks and a police jeep were also reportedly burnt by protesters.
There is a 50-year-old dispute over border villages between Naga and Assamese people, which continues despite a Supreme Court-backed mediation process. A temporary pact places the disputed area under central forces, but local people say they don't feel safe.