From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI/Kokrajhar: Ethnic violence on Tuesday escalated in more areas of western Assam with 11 fresh casualties in clashes and police firing, forcing the Centre to rush 1,500 more paramilitary personnel to control the unrest that has claimed 32 lives so far.
A concerned Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh called up Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and asked him to do “everything possible” to control the violence while promising Centre’s full cooperation.
“Four persons were killed in police firing this morning when they were indulging in violence in Rampur and Chaparkata areas of Kokrajhar,” IGP, (BTAD), S N Singh told PTI.
Seven more bodies were recovered in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts. As new areas came under the grip of the ongoing clashes that began last week between illegal immigrants and Bodos, the state government sounded alert in Sonitpur, Baska, Kamrup (rural) and Darrang districts, official sources said.
The Prime Minister spoke to Gogoi and took stock of the situation. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister P Chidamabaram also called up the chief minister.
“The Prime Minister has directed him to do everything possible to control the situation and for relief and rehabilitation of the affected,” a PMO spokesperson said. Union Home Secretary R K Singh told reporters in Delhi that another 1,500 personnel of paramilitary forces were rushed today.
According to Chirang SP Kumar Sanjiv Krishna, sporadic incidents of violence were reported from remote areas. Nearly one lakh people have been rendered homeless in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Udalguri and Sonitpur and most them are sheltered in relief camps.
Gogoi held a late night meeting of cabinet and alleged that the incident was a “part of political conspiracy” to malign his government.
Police had to open fire at Rampur and Chaparkata villages in Kokrajhar district to control mob frenzy . The violence has disrupted the train services between Assam and the rest of the country. Indefinite night curfew remains clamped in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts and parts of Dhubri district.
Director General of Police (DGP) J N Choudhury rushed to Kokrajhar on Tuesday while an all-party team of the Assam assembly will be visiting the violence-affected areas on Wednesday.
The DGP said that situation was very tense and more Central forces would be required to contain the spread of violence. He said that the police would deal firmly and impartially with those responsible for triggering the violence.
“Fourteen more companies of Central forces are coming while 40 companies have been deployed in the violence-hit areas. We will do everything possible to bring the situation under control. People should remain calm, refrain from circulating rumour and work with us to tide over the crisis,” the DGP said. Train services between Assam and the rest of the country were totally disrupted on Wednesday because of the violent situation on the way. Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), CPRO, S S Hajong informed that total 10 trains were cancelled while 11 incoming and 20 outgoing trains rescheduled affecting over 20,000 passengers. New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express was attacked by miscreants near Gossaigaon at Assam-West Bengal border damaging four coaches. The train had to be been turned back and taken to Coochbehar Railway station in West Bengal. (With inputs from PTI)