India clashes leave 11 dead

Clashes between police forces and tribal groups opposed to ongoing local elections in northeastern India leave at least 11 people dead.

Police said that the fighting broke out in Goalpara district, around 120 km (75 miles) from the city of Guwahati in the state of Assam, on Tuesday.

“The situation is very critical and so far we have reports that 11 people are dead and about six are injured,” said senior police official Bhupen Bora.

Bora said police opened fire on the members of two pro-autonomy tribes after the “started torching villages and attacked government officials.”

“The Rabha and Hasong tribes want autonomy, they reject government rule in the district,” said Bora.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in clashes between and government forces and separatist groups in the tea- and oil-rich state of Assam over the last two decades.