Correspondent
GUWAHATI, AUGUST 14
THE exodus of people from the inter-state border in Golaghat district continued on Thursday even as Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has not ruled out the involvement of Naga underground groups in the violence. The chief minister said Naga underground outfits - supposed to be under ceasefire - may be behind Tuesday night’s firing.
Two more bullet-riddled bodies were recovered from from violence-hit areas on Thursday, sources said. Both the deceased beloned to Adivasi community.
“There was no fresh incident since Wednesday evening. But panic, triggered by rumours, has gripped people so much that they continued to flee their homes,” Gogoi told journalists in Guwahati on Thursday.
He said around 10,000 people were taking shelter in the relief camps set up by Assam’s Golaghat district administration in Uriamghat and Sarupathar.
The locals in Assam suspected the hand of a Naga underground group in the incidents of arson and indiscriminate firing. Gogoi has not ruled it out either.
“We also suspect the hand of Naga underground group in the incidents. But, we don’t have any concrete evidence to substantiate this,” he said.
Asked about the alleged inaction of Assam Police, Gogoi said, “The CRPF has been stationed there as a neutral force since 1979. So, it is their responsibility to ensure the maintenance of law and order there. But we still have sent two companies of Assam police battalions. Nagaland also wants the problem to be solved and has taken measures to defuse the tension”.
Gogoi is likely to meet his Nagaland counterpart TR Zeliang on August 21 to discuss the issue.
Official sources said prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC have been clamped in the area from 6pm to 6am.
Assam Commissioner-Secretary (Home) GD Tripathi informed that three miscreants from Nagaland, who had gone to torch houses, were arrested on Thursday.
Gogoi said the government has asked the people to return to their homes and assured them of security.
“I have spoken to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and urged him to send additional forces. We have also offered to help the CRPF there by sending two companies of Assam Police battalions.
“It is not that Nagaland does not want the problem to be solved. The state has also taken steps to defuse the tension,” he said.
Gogoi said Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang is likely to meet him Aug 21 over the issue.
He said a case is pending in the Supreme Court on the boundary demarcation between Assam and Nagaland.
“The problem is while Nagaland wants the apex court to go by historical records while demarcating the state boundary, we have been insisting that the court go constitutionally,” he said.
With IANS inputs
