India tribe's 20,000-strong rally

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

More than 20,000 tribes people have come on to the streets of a remote district of India's West Bengal state to demand a separate tribal homeland.

The Rajbongshi tribes people are blocking roads a day after violent protests had left five dead and more than 100 injured.

Police killed two people on Tuesday when they fired on protesters who went on the rampage, killing three officers.

The state government has sent a huge number of troops to quell the unrest.

Armed groups

Intelligence officials say tension is high, with the Rajbongshis demanding an inquiry into Tuesday's police shootings.

Police had used baton charges and then fired to break up the Rajbongshis in Koch Bihar.

Fierce clashes followed, with two of the lynched officers reportedly having their eyes gouged out.

The Rajbongshis are a large tribe inhabiting northern Bengal and districts in the neighbouring state of Assam and in northern Bangladesh.

Their kings ruled over the princely state of Koch Bihar until it merged with India after the British left.

For several years, the Rajbongshi tribesmen in northern Bengal have been demanding the creation of a separate state they want to be called Kamtapur.

The demand has been pursued both by political groups and underground armed groups representing the Rajbongshis.