Curfew relaxed on Assam-Meghalaya border

Shillong, Jan 13 (PTI) With the situation limping back tonormal in the ethnic violence-hit Assam-Meghalaya borderareas, curfew was relaxed today for six hours in Resubelparasubdivision of East Garo Hills district.

"No incident has been reported in the last two days.

Curfew has been relaxed for six hours from 10:00 am. Fromtomorrow, only night curfew will be in place," Meghalaya''sEast Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi toldreporters.

Refugees, he said, were returning to their villages andone of the 18 relief camps had been closed down.

The situation in neighbouring Goalpara district in Assamwas also normal, with the administration imposing only nightcurfew from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am in four police station areasfrom today, its Deputy Commissioner P K Goswami said.

Police escorts were provided to public vehicles runningin the inter-state border areas.

Civil society groups, security personnel and officials ofthe administration were holding peace meetings in affected andadjoining villages.

NGOs, however, would no longer be able to distributerelief to the displaced people following reports ofinequitable distribution and also instances of tension beingfuelled.

Official sources said the NGO were asked to depositrelief material with the district administration which wouldcheck the quality and ensure equal distribution to theaffected families.

At least nine people were killed and nearly 50,000displaced in the ethnic violence than began on January 1. PTIRTJ PC