19 killed in civic polls violence in Northeastern India

At least 19 people have been killed and several others sustained injuries in violent clashes since Tuesday morning between the police and local tribals in Goalpara district of northeastern Indian state of Assam, a senior police officer said Wednesday. "The death toll in the clashes has risen to 19. Several others, including security forces personnel, have been injured in the clashes between the police and the tribals opposed to the ongoing local civic body polls in the state," he said, on condition of anonymity. Assam's Home Secretary Gyanendra Tripathi told the media in state capital Guwahati that curfew has been imposed in certain areas in the district and army troopers have been called out for patrolling. The state's Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has announced a compensation of 500,000 Indian rupees (10,000 U.S. dollars) each to the families of the deceased. Over 10,000 people have been killed in unrest in Assam over the last 20 years.