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Extended vacation for schools in riot-hit Assam districts

July 30, 2012 11:02 IST

Educational institutions in Assam's violence-ravaged districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Dhubri are likely to have an extended summer vacation.

Over four lakhs riot-hit are lodged in 278 relief camps in the violence-affected areas and out of those over 200 relief camps have been set up in educational institutions.

According to an official source, out of the 64 relief camps in Chirang district, 54 are located in educational institutions.

Similarly, over 150 educational institutions in Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts are now housing the riot-hit.

With there is hardly any chance of the riot-hit going back home within the next few days, the re-opening of these educational institutions on schedule on August 1 seems highly unlikely.

State Education Minister Dr Himanta Bishwa Sarma informed that in view of the prevailing situation summer vacation has been

extended by another seven days.

In case, the relief camps in educational institutions still remain operational beyond the extended summer vacation, the education department will take further steps to make these institutions functional.

Most relief-camp inmates, whose houses have been burnt down, will not be able leave camps till their houses are rebuilt by the authorities and that will not be possible within seven days, an official in Kokrajhar said.

On the other hand, some of the panic-stricken relief camp inmates, whose houses have not been damaged, maintain that they would return home provided they are given adequate security over. 

A statement issued by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's office said that the situation was becoming normal in the violence-hit districts where 20 columns of army personnel along with 65 companies of central paramilitary forces are keeping vigil round the clock.

K Anurag in Guwahati