Guwahati:Opposition parties, including AGP, CPI(M) and NCP, on Monday demanded a special relief package from the Centre for the people affected in the serial attacks by NDFB(S) militants and retaliatory violence in Assam.
In a meeting organised by Asom Gana Parishad, the group criticised both the state and Central governments for failing to provide security to common people. Alleging that many persons in a number of relief camps have not received any relief materials like foods, medicines and blankets, a joint statement by AGP, CPI(M), CPI, NCP, CPI (ML) and United Peoples Front demanded the Centre for “a special package for relief and rehabilitation”.
While condemning the attacks, the joint statement supported action against the NDFB(S), urging to maintain caution during operations so that no innocent people was harassed. Besides, the united opposition demanded seizure of all illegal arms in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts.
The meeting decided to visit the relief camps in Kokrajhar on January 2 and hold a protest sit-in in the state capital on January 3.
Altogether 81 people, including 26 women and 18 infants, have been killed since December 23 evening in serial attacks by NDFB(S) terrorists, retaliatory violence and police firing across Kokrajhar, Sonitpur, Udalguri and Chirang districts. Nearly 1.8 lakh people belonging to both Adivasi and Bodo commu-nities are living at 136 relief camps in four districts.
Till Sunday, 1,01,272 persons were taking shelter in 81 relief camps in the four affected districts, but the number of relief camps increased to 136 with 1,76,440 inmates, Hazela noted. Asked why the number of inmates increased, he replied that rumour-mongering, particularly in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts, was to be blamed for it.(PTI)