PTI
Guwahati, May 13
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Assam government has sought 50 companies of central forces for providing security in troubled Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) after results of Lok Sabha election are declared.
“We have asked for 50 companies (100 personnel each) from the Home Ministry to maintain law and order in BTAD. Of them, 30 companies will be provided by the Centre,” Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told a press conference here today.
Ten companies will reach the state during the day from West Bengal after completing poll duties, Gogoi said, adding that he has sought an action plan for future security in BTAD.
“These central forces will eventually go back after the situation becomes normal. So, we have to develop a mechanism for providing security to the people of BTAD,” he said.If necessary, the state government will carry out a recruitment drive for providing security to the people, he said.
The toll in the two-day attack since May one in Baksa and Kokrajhar districts of BTAD has gone up to 46.
While 39 people have been killed in Narayanguri, Khagrabari and Narsingbari villages of Baksa district, seven died in Kokrajhar.
“Two persons are still missing. Chances of their being alive are very remote, but we cannot declare them dead until we find their bodies,” Gogoi said.
“The number of inmates in the relief camp has gone down to 310 from 498 in the last few days,” he said, adding the situation was gradually returning to normal.
It has been alleged by the affected people that Congress ally Bodoland People’s Front miscreants were responsible for the attacks on the people as they did not vote for the party’s candidate in the Lok Sabha polls. BPF has denied the allegations.
Gogoi had earlier said that his government would snap ties with BPF if the charges against it are proved.
Gogoi dismisses dissidence
Assam Chief Minister today rubbished rumours of dissidence within Congress legislators saying that nobody was unhappy with him.
“There is no dissidence. Not a single MLA is saying that Tarun Gogoi should be removed,” Gogoi told reporters here, adding that reshuffle of portfolios will soon take place.
The Chief Minister, meanwhile, said that a special force will be formed for the security of doctors and other staff of medical colleges and hospitals in the state.
The announcement came following an Assam Medical College postgraduate student’s murder in the hospital premises last Friday.
“When I met the medical students, they told me that frequent attacks are taking place at different medical colleges and hospitals across Assam. We have to take measures to stop this.
“We will create a force to provide security to medical professionals. This force may not require very intense and sophisticated training,” he said.
Last Friday, a first-year post graduate student Sarita Tasniwal was found dead inside the Assam Medical College ICU. The ICU’s ward boy Khiru Mech was arrested who confessed of murdering her after a rape-attempt along with four others.
The Junior Doctors’ Association spearheaded a protest demanding exemplary punishment of the accused and stepped up security within campus.
