GUWAHATI: The Government of Assam will ask the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe into the latest spurt in violence in Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD) areas.
This was announced by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi here on Saturday.
Chief Minister Gogoi said that the State Government will ask the NIA to probe into the violent incidents in BTAD areas so that the forces behind the heinous crimes are brought to book.
“Anyone involved in the heinous and dastardly crimes would not be spared. The NIA investigation will help to unearth the truth behind the gory incidents,” he added.
The Chief Minister said he had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh on Saturday morning and he had briefed him in detail about the prevailing law and order situation in BTAD areas and the measures being taken to bring back normalcy in the violence affected areas.
Gogoi said that the Prime Minister expressed concern over the incidents and assured him all possible help and support to restore peace and normalcy.
Gogoi said that the Central Government is rushing in another 10 companies of CRPF in addition to the 10 companies already dispatched to the violence-hit areas.
The Chief Minister, who convened a Cabinet meeting to discuss the situation, said that the State Government has requested the Central Government to deploy a special force of the CRPF named Cobra to contain the violence in the BTAD areas effectively.
The Chief Minister said that steps are being taken to intensify patrolling with the help of the Army and paramilitary forces, to set up more outposts and pickets and to form peace committees comprising people of all communities to bring back peace in the trouble-torn areas.
Gogoi further said that the Chief Secretary has had video conferencing with the Cabinet Secretary on Saturday to apprise him about the incidents that took place in the past two days. The Chief Minister said that a Group of Ministers earlier constituted would meet on Sunday to
discuss the situation in BTAD areas and to take effective steps to bring back normalcy.
“Several ministers have gone there to take stock of the situation and to instill confidence among the people,” he added.
In an appeal to the media houses, especially the electronic media, the Chief Minister said that the news channels must exercise restraint in beaming news portraying gory incidents of violence.
“I appeal to the electronic media not to depict incidents of violence with chilling regularity as they may aggravate the situation further. It’s time to exercise restraint in the greater interests of maintaining peace, amity and unity among all sections of society,” he added.
The Chief Minister said he was saddened with the way violence have hit BTAD areas after a relative lull. Gogoi while terming the incidents of violence especially against children and women as ‘saddest moments of his life’ said he owes moral responsibility for the loss of lives of innocent people.