80 homes burned in India clashes

Rioters clashing over land rights have burned down dozens of homes in north-east India, while some 50,000 villagers are sheltering in camps for protection, police said today.

Assam Police Chief JN Choudhury said 21 bodies hacked with machetes and left in the jungle or by the road or riverside have been found since violence erupted between the region's ethnic Bodo community and Muslim settlers in the state's western district of Kokrajha on Friday.

Local police inspector general SN Singh said today that some 5,000 troops have been deployed with a mandate to shoot suspected rioters on sight.

Some 80 homes were burned overnight as the violence spread to Dhubri and Chirang districts. No-one was injured in the fires as the residents had fled to government shelters.