Shillong: A convoy of the Border Security Force came under attack in the Garo Hills region of Meghalaya, leaving several personnel injured and a vehicle torched amid continuing unrest linked to local council elections, officials said on Thursday.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when a convoy carrying a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the BSF was returning from a meeting in Tura near the India–Bangladesh border.
According to officials, a group of people attacked the convoy during the journey.
The DIG and other officials travelling with him sustained minor injuries in the attack. One of the BSF vehicles, which was left behind during the incident, was set on fire by the attackers.
The BSF is responsible for guarding the India–Bangladesh border, a 4,096-km frontier of which about 443 km runs through Meghalaya.
The attack comes amid escalating tensions in the Garo Hills region following clashes related to the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.
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Violence between tribal and non-tribal groups over the filing of nomination papers for the council polls earlier this week resulted in two deaths.
In response to the deteriorating law and order situation, authorities have imposed curfew in the districts of West Garo Hills and East Garo Hills. Mobile internet services have also been suspended across five districts of the region.
The state government has meanwhile postponed the council elections that were scheduled to be held on April 10 following the outbreak of violence.
