Violence in Makar Sankranti festival in Sonamura, Kailashahar, 4 youths injured

Though, ‘Makar Sankranti’ festival at Tirthamukh and other parts of the state celebrated on Monday and Tuesday passes off peacefully, but festival in Battali in Sonamura and foothills of Unakoti marred with violence and as many as four persons sustained injuries.

Sources said that clashes among two communities erupted at Battali Pour Sankranti  Mela premises allegedly after  non-tribal youth started eve teasing a tribal girl. Soon after the girl complained to her few friends, a group of tribal youths started ransacking festival premises and attacked two non-tribal youths.

During indiscriminate attacks, two non-tribal youths were severely thrashed in front of police and TSR jawans. Miscreants had also ransacked a few makeshift shops and destroyed different items stored in these shops.

Amidst massive hue and cry, somehow police forces rescued both non-tribal youths and with help of some local youths, they shifted both injured youths to a local hospital in critical condition.

Though, large number of devotees gathered at the festival premises,  the fair committee and the local administration did not provide adequate security measures, even though there were no ambulances or firefighting vehicles.

Sources said that after the massive chaotic situation, additional forces were deployed at the fair complex to defuse the escalating tension among two communities.

In another shameful incident held on way to Unakoti Pous Sankranti festival, when a group of youth from Sribhumi district of Assam was moving towards destination through a private car for holy dip at Unakoti, a group of miscreant halted them at Kadamtala area and attacked on these Hindi speaking youths. Miscreants had also snatched some valuable items from victims’ youths and they had also ransacked their private car.

Somehow, these youths from Assam state rushed to Dharmanagar police station and police after giving them necessary medical attendance and lodged a complaint.

Police sources said that they managed to detain private care, in which accused youths had chased the victim youths, but till Tuesday night was unable to arrest none of the accused youths.