From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday informed that as violence-displaced people in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) districts and adjoining areas had started going back home from relief camps ,the government has set August 15 as deadline to send back all of them to their villages.
Clashes between Bodos and minority immigrants in the violence hit districts had left 56 dead last month.
He said as the situation was limping back to normal with no report of fresh incidents and deaths since July 25 last and displaced people willing to go back home were being sent back to their villages with adequate security arrangements.
A total of 278 relief camps had been opened to shelter 4.06 lakh persons in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Bongaigaon and Dhubri districts.
“With violence-hit people starting to return home , 14 relief camps in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts have been closed till this morning and over 12,000 people have returned to their villages.
The people want to return and it indicates that the sense of insecurity is gradually fading away,” Gogoi informed.
Gogoi said refugees were being given food, medicine, baby food and Rs 500 in cash to buy clothes and utensils and prefabricated structures and tents were being provided for those who lost their homes.
He said the Assam government had set a deadline for August 15 to send all violence-displaced people back to their homes and was working on security plans to ensure their safe return and stay at their respective villages.
“A pre-fabricated security set up will be put in place to instill confidence in the mind of violence-hit people in vulnerable areas.”
“A total of 104 security pickets will be set up in the vulnerable areas, of which 10 pickets have already been set up and 19 will be in place by end of the day ,” Gogoi said.
On deployment of army and paramilitary forces, he said the Centre has assured the state that forces would be in place as long as necessary.
He said the Centre had assured of all assistance and allowed the state to retain the required number of security personnel.
He said displaced people would be provided adequate assistance to rebuild their houses.
The state and Central governments had earlier announced separate monetary compensation for families of those killed, injured and also for rebuilding houses, including procuring clothes and utensils.
Curfew has been relaxed during the day though night curfew will continue in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts, official sources said. (With inpits from PTI)