Shillong/ Dhubri, Jan. 3: At least 30 houses belonging to the Rabha community were set on fire this afternoon at Mendipathar in East Garo Hills of Meghalaya, close to Nalbari in Assam’s Goalpara district following a clash between the Rabhas and the Garos. Section 144 CrPC has been imposed in the area.

Tension first erupted last week after the Rabhas called for a road blockade in Goalpara and the protesters pelted stones on Garo hills-bound vehicles. The situation turned worse on Saturday after an altercation between a group of Rabha and Garo youths, both of whom had come for a picnic at Nalbari in Assam, near Mendipathar.

Officials at Mendipathar police station, who arrived to pacify the agitating youths, were mobbed by some Rabha youths and had to retreat. The situation was brought under control after more police and CRPF personnel arrived from the Nalbari outpost.

In protest against the ongoing economic blockade and harassment of Garos in Goalpara, the Garo National Council of Assam called a 12-hour bandh in Goalpara district today. Other tribes and communities affected by the economic blockade extended support to the bandh.

The police said though the bandh passed off peacefully, there were minor incidents of assault on Garo boys.

In Mendipathar, however, at least 30 houses belonging to the Rabhas were torched today. East Garo Hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi and superintendent of police Sylvester Nongtnger are camping in the area.

“We had a meeting with our counterparts in Goalpara district and are keeping vigil to ensure law and order in the area,” Bakshi said.

Both the East Garo Hills and the Goalpara district administrations appealed to the people to remain calm and maintain peace.

The police have intensified mobile patrolling in several sensitive areas on the Assam-Meghalaya border.

Deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi said curfew was imposed in certain disturbed areas under Resubelpara civil sub-division of East Garo Hills after the torching of the houses today.

The police, however, said no one was seriously injured.

Three platoons of additional forces have been deployed in the area. Besides Bakshi and Nongtnger, three more magistrates are camping in the area. Around 200 arson-affected people were shifted to several camps. The administration has provided blankets, firewood and ration to the affected, the police said.

There are more than 300 villages along the Assam (Goalpara)-Meghalaya (East Garo Hills) boundary, which are inhabited by both the Rabhas and the Garos.

The torching of houses at Mendipathar has fuelled communal passion among the villagers. Sporadic incidents of attacks and assault on Garo people in Dudhnoi and elsewhere in Goalpara district were reported after the news spread.

The general secretary of the All Rabha Students Union, Jibon Chandra Rabha, said they had demanded immediate deployment of paramilitary forces and army in the villages.

“There are more than 300 villages on both sides of Rabha-Hasong Council areas and East Garo Hills of Meghalaya. Today’s incident has created a deep sense of insecurity in the minds of the Rabhas living along the inter-state border villages,” Rabha said.

He said their movement was not against the Garo people. They were fighting for inclusion of their community in the Sixth Schedule and holding of election in the council area. He said the 84-hour road blockade in the Rabha-Hasong area would continue.

The union has called for a 500-hour road blockade on NH 51 and 61 and other roads connecting Assam and Meghalaya in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council areas from noon tomorrow to protest against the border clash.

Goalpara superintendent of police Luise Aind said he had visited the villages and given instructions to the nearest police station to remain vigilant and monitor the situation. “We have already formed the peace committees and additional security forces have been deployed,” Aind said.

The incident reminded of the Lampi (Langpih in Meghalaya) incident on the Assam-Meghalaya inter-state village, which had flared in May last year with the killing of four persons in police firing and torching of houses thereafter.