Rajnath Singh's helicopter develops technical snag, makes emergency landing

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's helicopter made an emergency landing at Tezpur IAF airbase on Thursday after developing a technical snag.

Singh's helicopter, which had left for Kokrajhar from the airbase, developed technical problems midair and was forced to return to Tezpur, a senior police officer said. Singh, accompanied by his deputy Kiren Rijiju, was delayed by more than hour and could only leave when another chopper returned from Kokrajhar.

The Home Minister, who arrived here last evening, earlier visited Bishwanath Chariali to review the situation following the killing of 46 persons - 43 in attacks by NDFB(S) and three in police firing in Sonitpur district. Singh reviewed the situation in a meeting with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and senior police officers last night and was scheduled to visit the violence affected districts of Sonitpur and Kokrajhar district. Attacks by NDFB(S) and retaliatory violence by Adivasis along with an incident of police firing has claimed 78 lives in Assam so far.