Title - Assam violence: Army deploys 13,000 troops, train services remain stalled

GUWAHATI: As the death toll in the ongoing ethnic clash in Assam climbed to 36, the Army was called out in on Wednesday to help the state administration contain the violence in the four affected districts of Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Chirang and Bongaigaon.

Defence spokesman Lt Col SS Phogat said that 13,000 troops have been deployed in all areas in the four districts from 8.30am. "The Army has staged flag marches and wherever the vehicles cannot travel, flag marches on foot have been carried out," he said.

As rioting refused to die down, the defence ministry on late Tuesday evening approved the deployment of army in the troubled areas. The death toll on Tuesday evening was 32 and it rose to 36 after four more bodies were recovered at Bijni in Bongaigaon district on Wednesday morning.

The four affected districts border each other and form the cluster of lower Assam area in the state's western region.

The Army is already present in the entire state, including Kokrajhar, for counter insurgency operations under Operations Rhino and its involvement in law and order duty, a state list subject sanctioned only after the state government seeks its help.

Chief executive member of Bodoland Territorial Council Hagrama Mohilary sent a message to chief minister Tarun Gogoi seeking deployment of army in the troubled areas on Tuesday afternoon.

Later Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also assured Gogoi all help, including army and additional security forces, if required during a telephonic discussion during the day which was followed by a discussion with defence minister AK Anthony. Gogoi also had discussions with defence secretary. The deployment of Army was assured if the state government desired, the chief minister's office said.

At present there are 40 companies of paramilitary forces deployed in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts. State principal secretary for home GD Tripathy said more forces were on their way to the state.

Train services remain disrupted

The northeast remained cut off from the rest of the country as train services remained stalled for the second day today with no trains leaving Guwahati station today and none entering Assam, Northeast Frontier Railway spokesman S Hajong said.

More than 30,000 passengers were stranded yesterday in different places along the route since Monday, but now many of them have made alternative arrangements. Still more than 10,000 passengers remained stranded.

"We have urged the state government to provide us adequate security so that the Railways can operate the trains to ease the suffering of the passengers," Hajong said.

Railway minister Mukul Roy spoke to chief minister Tarun Gogoi yesterday and urged him to provide adequate security to allow movement of trains and ensure safety of passengers.