Army has been deployed in violence hit Bodo areas in Assam. Under the directions of the Prime Minister the Cabinet Secretary a review meeting was held with Central and State authorities.

Twenty companies of central forces have been made available to the State. Additional companies, including Cobra companies, will be sent as required.

Nine army columns have been deployed and patrolling is going on. Relief camps are being set up by the State for those who have been affected. The Centre is standing by to provide food and medicines for the affected families as per the State’s requirements.

As the death toll in violence in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts has risen to 31, the Assam government has decided to recommend NIA probe into the incidents. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told this to the media after attending a cabinet meeting in Guwahati.

Gogoi said that state government will seek more forces from the centre to deploy in the area. He also said that the Assam government will need one specialized company of Cobra battalion for counter insurgency operation. The Chief Minister also urged the electronic media to play a positive role to bring in normalcy. Gogoi said instruction has been given to the district administration to take measures for confidence building.

Meanwhile, state Human Rights Commission has instructed the Assam government to order an enquiry into the violence and submit its reports within 45 days.

State Forest Minister Rockybul Hussein said that nobody will be spared if found guilty during the course of investigation. He said that the present violence that occurred in Baksa and Kokrajhar is not communal clash, but only a section of people involved in the violence.