Home Minister P Chidambaram assured proper security and all possible help to violence-displaced people lodged in a relief camp in Kokrajhar Assam. K Anurag reports
On his visit to violence-affected Korajhar and Chirang districts in Assam Union Home Minister P Chidambaram interacted with people in relief camps and officials working in the field.
Chidambaram, who is there to assess the ground situation, on Monday assured proper security and all possible help to violence-displaced people lodged in a relief camp in Kokrajhar Assam, so that they can go back home.
Chidambaram said, "I have assured them (violence-hit people) that the government of India (GOI) and government of Assam (GOA) will help them rebuild their houses. Both the governments are fully geared up to accomplish the task of rehabilitation. Security will be provided in villages so that they can live in peace."
"I have come here to assess the situation on the ground, talk to the officers in the field, visit some affected areas, to meet people in the relief camps. The immediate task before us is to ensure peace and harmony so that a confidence is instilled in their mind. They (relief camp inmates) are gently persuaded to go back to their villages. All of them are anxious to go back to their villages but they are naturally asking whether they will be safe or not. We will help them rebuild their houses and will provide security in the village," Chidambaram said.
"Police and the administration have drawn up a plan for rehabilitation. It is an eminently doable plan. We will also provide mobile and fixed security pickets in the village. We won't set a deadline for it, but it will be done as early as possible," said the home minister who visited two relied camps at Titaguri High School and Bhutgaon in Kokrajhar and two other camps at Basugaon College and Basugaon Higher Secondary School in Chirang district.
Chidambaram said the situation was becoming normal as there was no fresh incident of violence or death during the last 72 hours. He said that 57 precious lives had been lost so far. He said the present concern of the government was to look after people in relief camps, provide them with food, drinking water and medicines and gently persuade them to go back as early as possible.
When drawn to the allegation of availability of illegal arms in Bodoland Territorial, Council (BTC) area, Chidambaram said, "We are aware, we are aware of it. It is an important thing. It is on our mind and we will do something."
On allegation of involvement of illegal migrants from Bangladesh in the riot, Chidambaram said that all other issues could be addressed in due course of time.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi during his visit to meet violence-affected people at a relief camp at Noyaguri in Dhubri district urged people to go back to their villages at adequate security would be provided at their villages through setting up of security pickets and mobile patrolling. He asked the people to go back to their villages within 15 days.
He announced that Rs 500 would be provided immediately to every relief camp inmate to buy clothes. He said land of the violence-displaced would be fully protected so that no one could encroach upon it.