The western Assam districts injected by communal riots paid visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who announced an Rs 300-crore package as compensation for hurting and grieving victim families who have lost their loved one.
“The ethnic conflict that occurred is unacceptable and must stop. We are one people and one nation and we must live together,” Mr. Singh told reporters.
The government also offered Assam government to take also services of all existing 11,600 Central forces, to completely normalize the riot-hit areas.
“As of now, 65 companies of central armed police forces have been made available to (the) Assam government after moving them from other states,” a home ministry statement said.
However, counter-insurgency operations have operated while sensitive situation arises after ethnic clashes between Bodos and Muslims immigrants were out of control, started on July 20. 58 peoples have died in these ethnic riots; seven are missing and more than 4 lakh homeless.
Reports said, 7,300 personnel of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the strife-torn districts, and eight companies of Central forces took into action in the affected areas such as Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts. A C-130J Hercules aircraft with two medical teams and relief materials has been dispatched for the different camps to provide relief to affected peoples.
Food and other relief material had been dispatched to all the riot-hit state and the Center is reviewing the over all situation and take updates of the site.
Mr. Singh visited a relief camp of Bodo victims and also of Muslim inmates, said, “I have come here to share your sorrow and pain and this is a time for healing.”
In addition, Singh said to assist Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the victim’s family; Rs 50,000 each for seriously injured and Rs 30,000 for homeless families.