Assam tribal strike turns violent

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At least one person has been killed during a strike in support of tribes people in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam, police say.

Eleven others were seriously injured when violence broke out in the north and west of the state.

The 36-hour strike was called after two "Adivasis", or descendants of central Indian tribespeople, were killed in the state capital, Guwahati, on Saturday.

The stoppage has brought life to astandstill in north and west Assam.

Disruption is particularly acute in the state's 800-plus tea gardens where Adivasis are in a majority.

Rally

Armed Adivasis attacked a jeep carrying people near the western Assamese town of Korkrajhar and set fire to it, police said. A Hindi-speaking migrant was killed in the incident.

A resident in Korkrajhar told the BBC government offices and banks were closed in the town. Strikers are also reported to have set up road blocks on the national highway that connects Assam - and six other north-eastern states - to the rest of India.

Guwahati has been largely unaffected by the strike as local Assamese and others go about their business normally.

Violence in the state capital on Saturday prompted the All Assam Adivasi Students Association (AAASA) to call the strike.

Thousands of people had gathered to demand Adivasis be recognised as scheduled tribes in Assam, a measure which would give them employment and education quotas.

In clashes with locals groups, two Adivasis were killed and more than 250 injured, according to official reports.

The Adivasi protesters are descended from tribal people brought from central India to work in Assam's tea gardens.