In Assam, the death toll has gone up to 62 in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts. 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, 3 persons were killed by miscreants in Chirang district today.
Senior police officials confirmed the death of 3 civilians in Chirang. Meanwhile , security forces allegedly resorted to firing to disperse protestors at Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district. Three persons were killed in the incident. 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 at 5 places in Sonitpur district. Curfew has also been imposed in Northern areas of Baksa district and the army has been requisitioned. 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.
Meanwhile, 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 2 lakh rupees each to the next of kin of the deceased and 50000 rupees to seriously injured persons from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. An official release said, 86 lakh rupees is being released to State Government from Prime Minister's fund.
Asom Gana Parishad, BJP, Congress, AIUDF and other civil society organisations have also condemned the attacks.
The Union Cabinet has paid homage to those who lost their lives in an attack in Assam. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, all the necessary steps will be taken to deal with the situation in the state.
