Simmering tension continued in three violence-hit districts of Assam even as people continued to desert their houses despite massive deployment of security forces in and around the areas.
The Army had already intensified counter-insurgency operations against the NDFB militants, particularly along the Indo-Bhutan border in Bodoland Territorial Areas Districts as well as in the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Sonitpur district. The deployment of the security forces, have, however, failed to instill any sense of security among the people in affected areas and the number of people deserting the houses have swelled every day forcing the district administrations to open up more relief camps.
The NDFB anti-talk faction had triggered a series of attacks at five locations in Kokrajhar, Sonitpur and Chirang districts on Tuesday last killing 75 persons. Another three people were killed in police firing the next day at Sonitpur district. The curfew had been relaxed in the troubled areas of Kokrajhar, Sonitpur, Chirang and Udalguri districts for a few hours on Sunday even as the districts administration said that the night curfew will continue for another few days for security reasons.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), a total of 136 relief camps have been opened in the affected districts housing 1,76,440 inmates. The number of inmates in a total of 81 relief camps till Saturday was 1,01,000. Chief Executive Officer of the ASDMA PK Tiwari said that 64 camps had housed the Bodo inmates while another 72 relief camps have been opened for Adivasi inmates in the affected areas.
“Number of inmates belonging to the Bodo and Adivasi communities is 61,003 and 1,15,337 respectively. Administration in all the districts and subdivisions are fully geared up to provide relief to the camp inmates,” he said. “To ensure that medicines are available in sufficient quantity, Health and Family Welfare Department has released an amount of Rs. 5 lakh to all the four districts to meet any emergent situation and to the Revenue and Disaster Management,” he said.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday reviewed the status of relief operations and directed the Assam police to intensify the confidence-building measures and undertake strategic deployment of forces, so that camp inmates can return to their respective villages as early as possible. Gogoi has also directed senior officers to keep close watch on the relief operations and ensure that all the necessary help is extended to the affected persons.