Blank Rounds Fired As Crowds Clash In Assam's Barak Valley During Voting

Today's incident late in the evening with only an hour left for voting likely marked the biggest election-related violence in Assam in the last few weeks

Supporters of the BJP and its rival AIUDF clashed in Assam's Barak Valley today as voting for the second phase of the election was about to end. The police had to charge at the crowds with batons to restore order in the tensed town. Officials said some policemen fired blank rounds in the air to prevent the crowds from becoming uncontrollable. Today's incident late in the evening with only an hour left for voting likely marked the biggest election-related violence in Assam in the last few weeks. Voting was held on 39 seats in the second phase of the Assam assembly election. BJP leader Parimal Suklabaidya, who is contesting from his stronghold in Dholai, told NDTV that the election in Barak Valley was predicted to be polarised. "But it's not the work of BJP. The mahajot (Congress-led alliance) is doing this," Mr Suklabaidya told NDTV.