Title - Crack down on ring leaders, Centre tells Assam

Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh on Wednesday asked the Assam government to immediately act against the “ring leaders” of the violence in the conflict-hit Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Chirang and Bongaigaon districts even as 13 Army columns moved into these four districts, carried out a flag march and cleared the railway track for the resumption of train services.

The Army was called in on Tuesday after violence escalated, forcing as many as 1,79,000 people from about 500 villages to take shelter in 128 relief camps.

The death toll in the ongoing violence perpetrated by miscreants belonging to Bodos and Muslims went up to 40 with the recovery of eight more bodies, two in Kokrajhar district and six in Chirang district. Eleven persons were reported missing till date. The clashes left 21 persons injured, even as the Centre rushed in more security personnel to violence-hit districts.

Reacting to an allegation by Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Hagrama Mahilary that violence was being instigated by infiltrators from Bangladesh, the Home Secretary ruled out such a possibility. “We have asked the State government to book the ring leaders on both sides so that violence can be checked immediately. No one involved in the violence will be spared… The international border is sealed. It is simply impossible for any organised group crossing over to India from across the border to carry out the attacks,” said Mr. Singh.

Mr. Mahilary is also president of the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), which rules the tribal council that governs the administration in four Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) — Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri. The BPF is a coalition partner of the Congress-led government in the State and has one Minister in Tarun Gogoi’s Cabinet.

Signs of improvement

Assam Home Secretary G.D. Tripathi told The Hindu that some incidents of arson were reported from Chirang district, where 15 persons were arrested. “The situation is showing signs of improvement. Barring some small incidents, no major incident was reported from any of these four districts. We are updating the data of relief camps and inmates and focussing on relief and rehabilitation and on making arrangements for safe drinking water, sanitation and health care.”

Under Army escort, eight of the 37 trains stranded in the violence-hit State resumed their onward journey on Wednesday. The Rajdhani Express (12436) and the Secunderabad-Guwahati Express (12513), both of which were held up at New Coochbehar for more than 24 hours, were among the eight trains. Security has been stepped up along the Alipudura-Kokrajhar section for ensuring smooth and safe passage of trains and passengers.

The Army conducted flag march on vulnerable stretches and platoons of Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) were deployed at the six major stations of Kokrajhar, Fakiragram, Chautara, Gosaingaon, Srirampur and Basugaon, ensuring partial resumption of movement of the stranded trains. Contingents of the RPSF and the State police were deployed on the trains. While the Centre has decided to rush in more paramilitary forces, the general manager of the North East Frontier Railway has petitioned the Railway Board seeking more platoons.

A two-member Central team, which included Special Secretary (Internal Security) Ajay Chadha and Joint Secretary (North East) in the Ministry of Home Affairs Sambhu Singh, visited the trouble-torn districts. An all-party delegation of the Assam Assembly, led by Deputy Speaker Bhimananda Tanti, also visited the Kokrajhar and Gossaigaon sub-divisions and met relief camp inmates.

Genesis of trouble

The trouble began on July 6 when two Muslim youths were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Kokrajhar district. On July 19, gunmen injured two other Muslim youths, including founder-president of the All Bodoland Minorities Students’ Union Mohibul Islam and All Assam Minorities Students’ Union leader Siddique Ahmed, at Magurmari in Kokrajhar district. On July 20, four Bodo youths, known to be former militants of the erstwhile Bodo Liberation Tigers were hacked to death by a mob at Joypur village. The incident sparked a series of attacks and counter-attacks the same night and later, blowing up into full-scale conflict in the district, spread to other three districts.