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Exodus to relief camps unabated

UDALGURI (Assam): The death toll in the clashes between Bodos and immigrant Muslim settlers in the northern Assam districts of Udalguri and Darrang and the lower Assam district of Baksa has gone up to 39.

The exodus from the riot-hit areas continued till Monday evening with the number of people displaced going up to 1,10,000.

The clashes, which broke out on October 3, have left 26 dead including 10 in police firing in Udalguri district, and 13 dead including five in police firing in Darrang district.

Although there was no report of any fresh clash, hundreds could be seen fleeing in groups all along National Highway 52, passing through the two districts, to take shelter in relief camps carrying with them whatever little belongings they could salvage from burnt houses and destroyed property.

In the relief camps, the inmates are still in the grip of panic and they are afraid to return to their villages. Altogether, 60 relief camps have been opened — 32 in Udalguri district sheltering about 75,000 people and 28 in Darrang district where about 35,000 riot-hit people are accommodated.

Subhash Das, Principal Secretary, Home, told The Hindu that of the 21 additional companies of paramilitary forces sought by the State government, the Centre sanctioned 14, four of which were already deployed. Ten more companies of the Border Security Force would move into violence hit areas on Tuesday.

An 11-member delegation of the CPI(M), including State leaders Ananta Deka, Deben Bhaatachryya, Ajit Das, visited relief camps. Later, the team met Revenue Minister Bhumdhar Barman at the Udalguri Circuit House and apprised him of the complaints of the inmates about inadequate relief materials and lack of safe drinking water and baby food.

The CPI(M) State committee demanded a high level probe into the clashes. At the relief camps, inmates belonging to both communities complained to the party that police and security forces had played a partisan role during the clashes.

Another Opposition delegation comprising the Asom Gana Parishad, the AGP (Progressive), the BJP and the Assam United Democratic Front also visited relief camps in both districts.

The government has told the Director General of Police that the officer-in-charge of a police station will be held responsible if fresh clashes break out in the areas under its jurisdiction. Similarly action will be taken against the Circle Officer if inmates of a jurisdictional relief camp complain of inadequate relief materials.

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