Violence and arson along the Assam-Nagaland border by alleged miscreants has claimed two lives so far with the recovery of one more body from the disturbed Uriamghat area as Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi held the CRPF responsible for failing to provide security to the people.
"Security forces have recovered one body this morning. We have not been able to identify him yet. With this, the total number of dead has gone up to two in last two days," Assam Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) A P Rout told PTI here. Besides, three more persons were injured since the beginning of the violence, he said.
Rout said around 200 houses of around 1,000 people were burnt and they are living in relief camps. "In total, over 10,000 people have left their homes and are living in 10 relief camps opened by the state government," he added. Rout said seven villages, including Chetiagaon, Rumanbasti, Tenpur, Lachitgaon and Jadhajibasti which fall under Sector B of the Assam-Nagaland border, have been affected.
"CRPF has set up camps in all the seven villages. One Assam Police company is also working under the CRPF as the place is a disputed and neutral area," Rout added.
Briefing reporters Gogoi today said the violence along the inter-state border with Nagaland took place as the neutral CRPF could not give securirty to the people living there. "Whatever protection CRPF should have given, they could not give. That is why the violence took place and people died," Gogoi said.
When asked specifically whether the CRPF failed to discharge its duties, he said, "I will not exactly say that." Gogoi said he will write to the Centre about this and alleged inaction by the CRPF Commandant. Earlier the Chief Minister asked Parliamentary Secretary Etuwa Munda and Additional DGP A P Raut to take stock of the situation.
The violence took place when angry locals were agitating in front of 155 CRPF battalion office at Chetigaon village in Golaghat district yesterday to protest against the abduction of two boys by suspected miscreants from Nagaland. CRPF personnel unable to control the agitators had resorted to baton charge to disperse them when the miscreants fired from across the border. A 25-year-old youth was killed on the spot in the firing and several other agitators were injured.
Night curfew has been imposed in the trouble-torn areas of Uriamghat in Golaghat district along Assam-Nagaland border after miscreants from the neighbouring state opened fire and burnt houses of villagers on Tuesday.
Additional para-military forces have been rushed to the affected area as only neutral security forces like the CRPF can be deployed along the disputed inter-state border. Assam police force have also been kept on alert in case of any eventuality, state Home Commissioner G D Tripathi said.
Normal life was paralysed in Golaghat district in a 12-hour bandh called today by All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) to protest against the killing.
Assam-Nagaland border area has been divided into six sectors in Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat and Karbi Anglong districts for administrative convenience. Tension along the inter-state borders has been a long-standing concern between the two states.
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