Monday, October 10 2005 14:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Diphu (Assam): Five Dimasa tribals, including two women, were killed by suspected Karbi miscreants today (Oct 10, 2005) taking the total death toll to 19 since Saturday in the ethnic violence between the two tribes in Assam's Karbi Anglong district.

District Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Sarma told sources that more than hundred Karbi speaking people with 40 of them in army uniform and armed with sophisticated weapons, attacked Kheroni village under Diphu police station at 7 a.m and set ablaze 63 houses and two rice mills.

The miscreants then fired indiscriminately killing five people on the spot and later fled after the army, police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who were patrolling the nearby areas rushed to the spot.

The victims have been identified as Ruhila Diphusa (35), Achinda Hasnu (31), Saibidi Doulaguja (40), Rangasing Diphusa (75) and Thimpairam Doulaguja (60).

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is scheduled to visit the violence hit district today while IGP (Law and Order) D K Pathak and DIG (Central Range) L R Bishnoi are camping here.

Eight Karbis were hacked to death and 150 houses set ablaze by Dimasas yesterday (Oct 9, 2005) while six others, including a three-year old girl, were killed and over hundred houses of both Karbis and rival Dimasa tribes burnt down on Saturday.