More troops sent to India's strife-torn northeast

BIJNI, India (AP) -- Indian authorities are rushing more troops to northeastern Assam state to quell ethnic violence that has killed more than 40 people over the past week.

The violence pits members of the ethnic Bodo community against Muslim settlers.

Assam's Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was meeting Bodo and Muslim leaders Thursday in an effort to defuse the tense situation and restore peace.

There are already 6,000 army and paramilitary soldiers on the ground.

A 24-hour curfew has helped curtailed the violence. Police say there are still sporadic incidents of violence in worst-hit Chirang district as armed Bodo youth roam the deserted villages.

More than 200,000 people have fled their homes. They are crammed into some 125 relief camps set up in schools and government buildings.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)