Situation improving, says Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi after visiting Kokrajhar; Manmohan Singh to visit state on Saturday
The riot-torn Kokrajhar district of Assam witnessed sporadic incidents of violence on Thursday even as flag marches were conducted by the Army and additional paramilitary forces deployed.
The manner and pattern of violence are of concern to the security forces. There is a fear that militant Bodo and Muslim groups are preparing for a long-drawn battle. Army personnel say “this could be just the beginning” of a prolonged fight, as several militant groups are hiding around 1,200 firearms.
However, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, during a visit here, said: “Though not completely normal, the situation has improved.” He insisted that violence and arson had come down and train services restored
Mr. Gogoi urged the media not to project that the State was burning. He asserted that only Kokrajhar, Baksa and Chirang in the Bodoland Territorial Administered Districts (BTAD) were hit by violence. He said the deployment of additional forces helped restore peace.
The Chief Minister, at an hour-long meeting at the Circuit House, interacted with Bodo and Muslim leaders, besides civil, Army and paramilitary officials.
Mr. Gogoi acknowledged that a big task remained at hand, with nearly 2 lakh people taking refuge in relief camps. Efforts would be made to ensure their safe return to their homes. He announced an ex gratia of Rs. 6 lakh to the next of kin of those killed (42 people). Compensation would be paid to the injured and those who lost their property.
Even as Mr. Gogoi was visiting Kokrajhar, reports of fresh violence were received from Jaima Kadamguri in Gossaigaon. Miscreants torched 10 to 15 houses in the village. A former MLA from Gossaigaon, who was witness to arson, said a large number of people were leaving their homes and fleeing south towards Dhubri district. Meanwhile, the Army conducted flag marches across the three districts with 13 companies, comprising nearly 1,200 troops.
For the people of Kokrajhar district, the main concern is supply of essentials whose prices have skyrocketed. It has almost been a week since suppliers discontinued sending vehicles here.
Keywords: Assam ethnic violence, Kokrajhar communal violence, Bodo tribals, Assam minority immigrants, shoot-at-sight orders, Assam curfew
violence is the manifest phenomenon of an inner latent problem. the core issue is the changing patterns of LAND OWNERSHIP between the BODOS and the MIGRANTS.Unless this is sort out through proper government action ,no amount of "PEACE KEEPING BY THE ARMY" will be enough.
The state government shoul take an immediate step and get control over the situation and bring things back to normal. the fight though be for any reason will profit none rather it will create more chaos and misunderstanding between the people who live there and also it might remain a cause of problem even for the future.
The situation should have been controlled at the start.. The
administration probably forgot that a twig is easier to remove than a
branch...
In india hindus and muslims are puppets for political leaders.Surprisingly both community is ready to fight each other every time altough they know that all these created by indian politicians either in Gujrat or in Assam.It is our resposibilty to treat these politicians accordingly.
It is a shameful example of governance, let aside good governance. UPA II is a failed govt. Time MM SIngh goes out gracefully. Else I hope the people will kick him out next.
2 lakhs people rendered homeless and 44 dead is indeed a sorry state of affairs ,not only for Assam but for the entire nation.
Also ,Mr.Chief Minister should be allowed the bandwidth to think and control the situation by the media.Potrayal of the situation in the worst light is certainly not good .It is a time when media should invest their efforts in supportive and assertive task as against writing ¨fear instilling¨ columns.
Stop the violence please!.
Do not affect women and children. You affect your own country and own families. Stop the violence!
The first steps that the local and central government need to take is to remove all the migrants from Assam and send them back to Bangladesh. All problems will then be resolved, including militancy in the NE India.
Our honable PM Manmohan Singh donate 50 million dollar for Europe countries to come out of the recission trap. Althought He knows that Europian countries still very strong than India.But Our govt not aware about their home situation. I think that money should be for development of Assam and other needful states.OR it must be use for control our rising prices.
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