Guwahati, July 30 (IANS) Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram Monday visited the violence-affected districts of Kokrajhar and Chirang in Assam and reviewed the security scenario as well as the relief and rehabilitation measures initiated by the state government.
Chidambaram is scheduled to visit some of the violence-affected areas of Dhubri district Tuesday before returning to New Delhi. The over week-long violence between the Bodos and the Bengali-speaking Muslim settlers from July 19 left 56 dead and lakhs homeless.
“I have visited several relief camps in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts today (Monday). It’s a regret and great sadness for me that such violence erupted in Kokrajhar and Chirang. However, the situation has contained and there has not been any fresh incidents in last 72 hours.
“I have also held a meeting with the chief minister (Tarun Gogoi) and Assam government officials today. The government has drawn up a detailed plan to ensure security to the people in the affected districts and for their rehabilitation,” he said.
Noting that the prime minister had already visited some of the affected areas and announced a compensation package, and so had the state government, he said it “is quite generous” and will help the affected people re-build their houses..
“Everyone must understand that this is a plural society and everyone must learn how to live together,” said Chidambaram, while referring to the complex nature of Assam’s demography considering the number of tribes and communities.
On asked about the presence of large scale illegal arms and ammunition in the Bodoland Territorial Area District and the allegation that those were being used in the current violence, the home minister said that the angle cannot be ruled out as there were many armed groups in the area and some of these were still fighting the government.
Asked about whether there is influx from the neighbouring Bangladesh, Chidambaram said that the incidence has come down sharply in recent times.
“However, we need more BOPs (border outposts) and better roads along the international border,” he added.
