GAUHATI, India (AP) — Violent clashes killed 11 people Tuesday when a tribe in India, fearing the government was infringing on its autonomy, protested a local government election in the northeastern state of Assam, police said.

Police shot and killed nine of the protesters when crowds in several areas of the Goalpara district, 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Assam’s capital, Gauhati, attacked officers and polling officials, state police chief Jayanta Narayan Choudhury said. Another two people were killed in violence between the protesters, who were trying to disrupt the election, and counter-protesters, he said.

The government imposed curfews in many parts of the district and state Home Secretary G.D. Tripathy said polling was suspended in 100 polling stations.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi called the violence “unfortunate” and said arrangements would be made to hold elections in the affected areas at a later date.

Members of the Rabha tribe were protesting the elections because they have their own autonomous council in the area. The election Tuesday was for village councils that would overlap their area of authority.

Violence hit the area in recent days, with houses burned and roads blocked by cut down trees.