Home Minister Rajnath Singh today described the Assam violence incident as an act of terror, saying the government will deal with it accordingly. Talking to media in New Delhi, Mr. Singh condemned the incident. He said, the Home Ministry has sent additional Central Armed Police Force teams to Assam in view of the violence. Around 62 people have been killed by militants in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts.
President Pranab Mukherjee has strongly condemned the killings in Assam. Mr Mukherjee said, such acts of terror and violence must be put down with a firm hand.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has expressed his grief over the loss of lives in the militant attacks on tribals in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts of Assam.In a tweet, the Prime Minister said that the killing of innocent people was an act of cowardice. He has sanctioned ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to seriously injured persons from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. An official release said, Rs 86 lakh is being released to State Government from Prime Minister's fund
Meanwhile, the death toll in Assam violence in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts has gone up to 62. Additional DGP Pallab Bhattacharya told this to AIR. He said that most of them were women and children. Several injured persons are undergoing treatment. In another incident, at least 9 persons were injured in Udalguri district when a section of people forcefully tried to shut down a market. Miscreants also torched down houses at some places. forces resorted to firing to disperse protesters at Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district. Hundreds of people gathered at Dhekiajuli protesting the killing of civilians by militants. Six state ministers will visit Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts to take stock of the situation following the death of civilians. Banned outfit National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Sangbijit faction) brutally killed civilians in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur district yesterday.
The Assam government has sought 50 additional companies of security forces to be deployed in the state. Union Home minister Rajnath Singh and minister for state Kiren Rijiju are likely to arrive Guwahati this evening. They are likely to visit violence hit areas and also to hold meeting with state government officials. Curfew has been imposed in parts of Chirang and Baska districts today while curfew is also on in parts of Sonitpur district. State Home department has alerted district administration to take all steps to prevent any untoward incident. The Assam government has urged people to maintain peace. Asom Gana Parishad, BJP, Congress, AIUDF and other civil society organisations have also condemned the attacks.
