From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Tension continued to grip the violence-ravaged districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa in Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District Council (BTC) areas and parts of Dhubri district of Assam where death toll has gone upto 44 with recovery of four more bodies in Chirang district on Thursday.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who visited Kokrajhar to take stock of the situation and security arrangement claimed that the situation was gradually improving though there were reports of sporadic incidents.
He chaired a security review meeting with senior police, BSF , CRPF and Army officials besides talking to representatives of various communities living in the BTC.
“The situation is gradually improving. About two lakh people have taken shelter in relief camps while the death toll has gone up to 44. More forces are arriving in violence-hit areas,” Gogoi added.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is likely to visit Kokrajhar on Saturday, officials said,
Curfew was relaxed for four hours in the morning in Kokrajhar town for the second consecutive day while tension continued to run high in the BTC area.
Stray incidents of violence were reported from Kokrajhar district as well as Chirang, Dhubri and Baksa during last night. Indefinite curfew and shoot-at-sight orders were in force in worst-affected Kokrajhar district, while night curfew was on in Chirang and Dhubri district.
About two-lakh violence-hit are taking shelters in 150 relief camps.
The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) on Thursday claimed that total 48 Bodo tribe villages were burnt down in three districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri so far rendering about 1.20 lakh people homeless. “These people have nowhere to go now. They have to be given proper rehabilitation assistance,” ABSU president Promod Bodo said.
On the other hand Religious Minority Council (RMC) of the BTC today demanded a CBI inquiry into the communal violence to pinpoint the mastermind behind it.
The RMC leaders accused the BTC chief executive member Hagrama Mohilary of being biased against riot-hit religious minority community people in respect of distribution of relief materials.
Meanwhile, additional doctors, nurses, mobile medical units and 15 ambulances along with medicine were dispatched to the violence-hit districts today.
Health Minister Dr Himanta Bishwa Sarma said, “We will ensure proper health care to all the affected and suffering people. We are arranging for more doctors for the three severely affected districts of Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Chirang.”
TRAIN SERVICE RESUED: Railway services have resumed this morning after remaining stranded for the last two days. The Rajdhani Express, The North East Express and the Kamrup Express left Guwahati on time this morning,” spokesman of the North East Frontier Railway ,S S Hajong said.