Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured all help from the Centre to the Uttar Pradesh government to restore normalcy in the group-violence hit Muzaffarnagar district. After visiting relief camps at Bassi Kalan and Taawli in the district on Monday, the Prime Minister said, priority and efforts now must be to ensure that affected people are sent back home with a feeling of security.

Terming the last week's clashes as a major incident, Dr Singh promised strictest punishment to the perpetrators of the crime.

Accompanied by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, party Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Minister of State for Home, RPN Singh, Dr Singh also interacted with a number of affected people. They listened to heart-rending sufferings of the victims and tried to assuage their hurt feelings.

On the way, they made an unscheduled halt at Jat-dominated Barwala and Kanjhapura villages of the district and interacted with people.

The Prime Minister also visited the residence of slain TV journalist Rajesh Verma and announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 10 lakh to his family along with educational aid to his children. Verma was killed while covering the incident.