Guwahati:
At least 10,000 people have been displaced after violent ethnic clashes between two communities - the Garos and the Rabhas - along Assam-Meghalaya border. And what's worse is that the civil administration still appears to react slow.
There is still no visible presence of police or paramilitary forces inside Assam. Across the border in Meghalaya forces, however, have arrived.
Groups of armed Rabhas and Garos are engaged in virtual war; villages have been set on fire, and people are fleeing homes.
The violence started during Christmas and New Year celebrations when the Rabhas attacked a wedding party of the Garos and also targeted a Garo pastor. The Garos hit back and set Rabha villages on fire. They also intercepted a passenger bus, segregated the Radhas and brutally injured ten of them. Two of them are reportedly in a critical condition.
The Garos looted shops at some places and the police had to resort to firing to disperse them.