Assam violence toll touches 5, PM calls up CM

Guwahati, Nov 16: Prime Minister

on Thursday evening called up

Chief Minister

to discuss the law and order situation in Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) where five persons had been killed in

since Nov 10. Gogoi explained the situation to Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from the state, and also steps that were being taken to control the violence.

The Assam CM also said that he had sought help from the army chief on a counter-insurgency plan. The army has been carrying out flag marches under curfew in the violence-hit areas and a high-level meeting comprising the state security officials was scheduled on Friday.

Two people were killed in Kokrajhar on Friday. Sources said two factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) locked horns over the weekend and triggered the violence.

On Thursday night, Gogoi directed the DGP and senior police officers at a special meeting called on the deteriorating law and order situation to sternly deal with the latest violence in the BTAD. He also asked them to seek help of the army and the para-military forces, if necessary. It can be mentioned here that four BTAD districts and Dhubri were engulfed by serious violence between the Bodos and minority people in July-August. Ninety people were killed while nearly 5 lakh people were rendered homeless during the violence.

Prime Minister Singh said the Centre would take all necessary measures to curb the violence and assist the state government in restoring normalcy.

OneIndia News