One person died and three others seriously injured when bandh supporters set a truck on fire at the NH-31 (C) near Kolabari village under Serfanguri PS in Kokrajhar district at around 11 pm on Tuesday. Photo: Rinoy Basumatary

One person died and three others seriously injured when a truck was burnt down by suspected bandh supporters on the NH-31 (C) near Kolabari village under Serfanguri PS in Kokrajhar district at around 11 pm on Tuesday.

The truck bearing registration number UP-25/AT-6390 was set on fire by suspected bandh supporters in the intervening night of November 20-21. According to sources, one occupant of the truck died and three persons suffered serious injuries. Later, Police sent the injured persons to hospital.

The deceased has been identified as Saddam Hussain.

The truck loaded with wheat flour was on the way to Tezpur.

The incident had occurred during the 48-hour bandh called by the All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Yuba Chatra Sanmilani, the All Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU) and All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani (AAKRS).

The bandh was called in protest against the centre’s reported move to grant Union Territorial Council status to Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD).

BTC areas witnessed a tense situation on Tuesday following the pandemonium that broke out between the general public and the security forces which resulted in the burning down of vehicle and injuries to scores of bandh supporters.

Thirteen persons have been arrested in this connection. They are — Prahlad Adhikari (29), s/o Dumasu Adhikari, Pankaj Adhikari (19), s/o-Sudhir Adhikari, Debaprasad Adhikari (17), s/o Dumasu Adhikari, Sunil Ray (31), s/o late jitu Ray, No 2 Narabari, Bimal Ray (31), s/o late Bisadu Ray, Bimal Barman (29), s/o Bisadu Ray, Manik Ray (17), s/o Naresh Ray, Shyamal Ray (35), s/o late late Bisadu Ray and Madhab Ray (26), s/o late Mintu Ray, all from Narabari village under Serfanguri PS. The rest of the arrested persons are- Sudhir Adhikari (50), s/o late Prabhat Adhikari, Nani Ray (55), s/o late Dijen Ray, Hariprasad Ray (15), s/o Siteswar Ray and Karna Ray (32), s/o Dhaneswar Ray, all from Kolabari village from the same PS. Among them Debaprasad Adhikari is HS 1st year student of Ramfalbil HS School while Manik Ray is BA 1st semester student of Janata College, Serfanguri.

Rinoy Basumatary is Northeast Now Correspondent in Kokrajhar. He can be reached at: [email protected]