Guwahati: Despite relaxing curfew for four hours in trife-torn North Cachar Hills district of Assam from 1.00 pm (IST) on April 11, the situation, though under control, continued to be tense.

No untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the district on April 11 and April 10 night after large scale violence rocked the district during April 10 morning despite the curfew, which was clamped at 1.00 pm (IST) on April 9 the sources said.

People were seen busy buying essential items from the few shops that opened during the curfew relaxation period amidst reports that hundreds of people belonging to the clashing Hmar and Dimasa tribal communities have started fleeing areas where they are in the minority.

N C Hills has been the scene of ethnic clashes between Dimasa and Hmar tribal communities for the last few days and a Hmar youth was killed and more than 100 houses were set ablaze during the curfew on April 10.

Suspected Dimasa miscreants set fire to 10 houses at Heronbasti near Umrangshu under Halflong police station and shot death one youth.

At the same time in neighbouring Rekzol area, armed Dimasas set ablaze 25 hutments, while in the remote Saranbasti village they torched 72 houses.

There was also heavy exchange of fire between the armed gangs belonging to the two warring communities in Saranbasti, said top police officials who are camping in the district to hold meetings with locals to find out ways to diffuse the tension.

PTI