Communal violence between Bodos and immigrant Muslims spread in north Assam since Friday night with the death toll mounting to seven, while authorities closed down National Highway 52 and extended curfew to four more areas.

Assam police spokesman Bhaskar J Mahanta confirmed that violence continued through the night with fresh incidents reported from Kuptibari, Sonabari and Jhargaon. He, however, said the situation was under control.

He informed that four more bodies were recovered from Rowta area of the Udalguri district as the Rowta market was also torched.

More security forces had also been rushed in, but violence continued. Both communities were armed with traditional weapons.

NH 52 was closed since Friday night as some vehicles were attacked by the immigrant community and as a security measure, the authorities stopped the plying of vehicles between Mangaldoi and Rowta.

Consequently, hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on both sides.

The police is now making arrangement for opening up the highway with security.

"Shoot at sight orders have been issued," Mahanta said, adding that on Friday night there were no incidents of any police firing.

He informed that clashes started when a group of Muslims reportedly attacked some Bodo tribesmen of a village defence party with arrows and other sharp weapons at Mohanpur in Udalguri district early Friday morning.

The attackers also took away one Rakesh Swargiyary with them, who was later rescued from Mohanpur LP School by the police. Five villagers who went with police were injured in the clash.

Rakesh and another person sustained severe injuries and were admitted to Tezpur Civil Hospital, while eight more of their group suffered minor injuries.
 
Mahanta said about 50 houses of people reportedly belonging to the Muslim community were burnt down in the area following the incident.

Neighbouring Bodo villagers, however, alleged that the owners had themselves set the houses afire to foment communal tension.

Police sources said tension flared up in Chapkata, Ratabari, Phisdia, Ikrabari, Simlaguri an Hazarsaon of Udalguri district. As a preventive measure, the district authorities had clamped down curfew in the Dalmari and Besimari areas.

Tension had also reached Rowta, the epicentre of the communal clashes that had broke out in mid-August.

Incidents of stone-pelting had been reported in Rowta between the two communities.

Bodoland Territorial Council chief Hagrama Basumatary condemned the incident and said a third party was involved.