Chidambaram faces slogan-shouting refugees at camp in Dhubri

Dhubri (

), Jul 31: Union Home Minister

today faced slogan-shouting refugees at one of the three camps he visited this morning in Dhubri district, which had witnessed ethnic violence.

Chidambaram, who left for Dhubri early this morning from Guwahati in a special chopper and landed at the Panbari BSF camp, visited two other camps - Borkanda and Takimari.

In Lakhiganj, the refugees shouted slogans against the administration and demanded that the government act fast to confiscate arms of the former Bodo Liberation Tiger militants.

They also alleged that basic facilities like healthcare were inadequate in the camps. The Home Minister told the inmates, "All help will be provided to the people here and the government will also take care of their security."

The Home Minister, who arrived in Guwahati yesterday, is on a two-day trip to the lower Assam districts where violence between minority immigrants and Bodo tribals have claimed 56 lives.

He was accompanied by Assam Environment and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain. Yesterday, he had visited Kokrajhar and Chirang districts, before returning to Guwahati in the evening where he held a meeting with senior ministers and state government officials. He is scheduled to fly back to New Delhi later today.

PTI