High security on Assam-Nagaland border

Seventeen additional companies of security forces were deployed along the Assam-Nagaland border after the police recovered nine bodies in the area and unidentified gunmen fired indiscriminately, killing one person and injuring another, police Sunday said.

Following the recovery of the bodies Friday night from an area near Nagaland's commercial hub Dimapur, unidentified assailants fired indiscriminately at a place near Khatkhati in Assam's Karbi Anglong district Saturday evening.

"While yesterday (Saturday) one of the nine bodies recovered in Dimapur was identified, another four bodies have been identified today (Sunday)," said Dimapur Superintendent of Police V.Z. Angami.

"All the five victims identified by their family members were from Bokajan area," he said.

The victims had gone missing Dec 28.

Meanwhile, Assam intensified security in and around Bokajan area in Karbi Anglong.

"A total of 17 companies of additional forces have been deployed in Bokajan and other troubled areas along the Assam-Nagaland border," said Assam Commissioner (Home) G.D. Tripathy.

"We have taken all preventive measures so that there is no backlash," he said.

Night curfew, imposed in the Bokajan subdivision since Saturday night, continued Sunday.

The incidents since Friday are being seen as the fallout of recent clashes between Karbi militants and Rengma Nagas in Karbi Anglong.

At least six people - four Nagas and two Karbi militants - were killed and over 50 houses torched in clashes around Chokihola in the district Dec 27.