New Delhi: The government Saturday said nearly 6,500 personnel of central paramilitary forces have been readied for Assam in the wake of sectarian clashes that have killed at least 45 people in the northeastern state.
“As of now, 65 companies of central armed police forces have been made available to (the) Assam government after moving them from other states,” a home ministry statement said here.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday toured the riot-hit state and visited two relief camps seeking to provide comfort to hurting and grieving victim families of the clashes between Bodos and Muslims in Kokrajhar.
Assam’s Bodo areas have seen week-long communal clashes that have also displaced about 3.92 lakh people in the three districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and Udalguri.
There are no no reports of any fresh violence since Thursday.
The home ministry statement said Assam had also been authorized to use 116 companies, or 11,600 personnel, of paramilitary forces, out of which eight companies were currently deployed for law and order duties in the Kokrajhar district.
“Thus, a total of 73 companies are deployed in affected areas for maintenance of law and order,” the statement said.
The central government Friday airlifted doctors and para-medics to provide medical help to hundreds of thousands of people who have been displaced and are living in relief camps following the violence.
It also dispatched a C-135 heavy-lift aircraft with medical aid and food supplies to the violence-hit areas as National Disaster Relief Force teams, along with experts on drinking water and sanitation issues, also reached Assam Thursday night.
In Delhi, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth reviewed the relief and medical arrangements in the camps through a video conference with the Assam chief secretary to ensure that food and other supplies were available in adequate measure. (IANS)
