Indefinite curfew remained in force in certain ethnic violence-hit pockets along Assam border, prompting the Meghalaya govt to seek an additional 500 paramilitary force personnel to tackle the situation.

Indefinite curfew was clamped in Mendipathar, Salpara, Adokgre, Horinkata, Bajengdoba, Nalbari and Manikganj areas in the state on Monday night after several cases of arson and burning of over 50 houses, which rendered over 200 homeless.

Reports of burning of houses of both communities also poured in from neighbouring places like Dainadubi, Manikganj and Bajengdoba.

A clash broke out between Garo and Rabha groups at Nalbari bordering Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills and Assam’s Goalpara districts on Saturday evening which flared up on Monday, official said on Tuesday.

Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said the Union Home Ministry was apprised of the situation and five additional companies of paramilitary forces has been sought for deployment in the violence-hit areas.

“The situation is tense. There would be no relaxation of curfew as of now,” East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi who is camping in the area, said.

About 3,000 people belonging to Rabha community residing in Meghalaya crossed over to Assam after being targetted by Garo groups and several hundred of them were evacuated from the villages and shifted to a relief camp at Mendipathar College by the East Garo Hills administration, officials said.

A Meghalaya government statement attributed the clash to some “misunderstanding” and requested the public not to be swayed away by rumours or take the law into their hands so as to prevent miscreants from taking advantage of the situation.

The All Rabha Students Union has enforced a 500-hour economic blockade against Meghalaya beginning Tuesday afternoon, protesting “harassment by miscreants and state security forces”, members of the outfit said.