Guwahati, July 27: The death toll in police firing at Kachubil in Assam's Darrang district rose to eight with the situation in the area remaining "tense but under control", official sources said here today. One person with serious bullet injuries succumbed at the Guwahati Medical College hospital here yesterday while eight others undergoing treatment were still in a critical condition, they said. Seven adivasis were killed and nine others were injured in police firing on Friday following an attack by armed adivasis on an All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) office and security forces at Kachubil under Paneri police station. The army was patrolling round the clock in the area to prevent any further outbreak of violence and the situation was "tense but under control", they added.
Home minister Rockybul Hussain who visited the area yesterday with senior police and civil officials has assured a high-level inquiry into the incident. A magisterial inquiry has already been ordered by the deputy commissioner of the district.

Meanwhile, a report from neighbouring Sonitpur district said all police stations have been alerted in view of the violence in Paneri. Assam police personnel, along with para-military forces, have been deployed in the 108 tea estates of the districts having a predominant adivasi population.

Bureau Report.