Monday, October 17 2005 15:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Diphu (Assam): At least 22 Karbi tribals, including eight women, were hacked to death and three injured by militants today (Oct 17, 2005) in continuing ethnic violence between warring Karbi and Dimasa tribes in Karbi Anglong hill district of central Assam, a senior police official said here.

District Superintendent of Police Pankaj Sarma told sources that unidentified militants with their faces covered in black cloth waylaid two buses coming from Jirikinding to Hamren and the district headquarters Diphu at Jengkha, under Kheroni police station, at around 8 a.m.

The insurgents then identified the Karbi passengers and asked them to alight from the Diphu-bound bus and hacked them to death before setting their vehicle and the other bus on fire completely burning down the first one and the other partially.

The Hamren bound passengers reported the incident at the Milu police outpost under Kheroni police station, about 130-km from here, Sarma said.

The two long distance buses belonged to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.

The S P along with security forces rushed there and cordoned off the area and intensified security arrangements.