In Assam, the death toll has gone up to 28 in recent violence in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts. IGP, L R Bishnoi said that 8 more bodies were recovered today in Baksa district. He said that 14 miscreants in Baksa and 8 in Kokrajhar district have been arrested so far for their involvement in the violence. Bishnoi said that most of them are linkmen of the banned outfit National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Sangbijit group). He said that strict vigil is on but ruled out imposition of shoot at sight order in violence-hit areas.
Additional DGP, A P Rout said that situation is improving in Kokrajhar district. Meanwhile, indefinite curfew is on in Baksa district as a precautionary measure. But curfew has been relaxed in Chirang and Kokrajhar district for three hours from 12 noon.
Curfew has also been imposed at the adjoining areas of violence-hit districts. Hundreds of trucks and buses have been stranded at national highways. The Army is staging flag march.
The Special Investigation Team, SIT, is likely to begin their investigation this afternoon. The Assam Border Area Development Minister Siddique Ahmed has today demanded arrest of former minister and senior MLA of Bodoland People’s Front, Pramila Rani Brahma for allegedly making inflammatory remarks recently. Relief camp has been set up in Baksa district. Assam Governor J B Patnaik has condemned the violence and appealed all to maintain peace and order.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Office sources said National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon this morning briefed the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh about the Assam situation. Dr Singh held discussions with the Cabinet Secretary and directed him to extend all help to the State government to ensure peace.
Bodoland People’s Front ruled out any role in the violence.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today urged the people of Assam to remain calm, ignore rumors and carry on their activities normally. Expressing shock and grief, the Prime minister said, the attacks are cowardly attempts to spread fear and terror among country's citizens.
In a statement issued in New Delhi, Dr Singh said, the Centre and state government will take all measures to maintain law and order and restore normalcy. The Prime Minister also spoke to the Chief Minister and Home Minister and directed them to restore normalcy.
Saying government is committed to fight terror in all its forms, he said, people of Assam have been braving terrorist attacks with courage and fortitude in the past. He added that they have voted in large numbers in the polling for the ongoing elections. Condemning the violence, Dr Singh expressed confidence that people of the state will continue to fight terror resolutely.
