GUWAHATI, May 8 � The situation in the two trouble-torn districts of Kokrajhar and Baksa in the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) continues to be peaceful and the districts are incident free. Curfew has been relaxed up to 12 hours in the districts, stated an official press release.
However, the death toll in the violent incidents in the two districts has gone up to 40 with the recovery of one more body of a male infant, added the press release.
Meanwhile, the State-level Crisis Management Group held a meeting today with Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla in the chair. The committee reviewed the post-violence rehabilitation measures and directed that these measures should continue in a comprehensive manner.
It was also decided in the meeting that the district and sub-divisional authorities should be sensitized to foil the attempts of the anti-social elements to paint any incident as communal ones. To maintain communal harmony, all confidence building measures should continue, observed the participants of the meeting.
The meeting also asked the law-and-order agencies to verify all information relating to possible group or communal conflict and to negate rumours.
It further said that search operations will be intensified for recovery of the remaining missing persons and the Assam State Disaster Management Authority will continue the search operation in the Beki River up the boundary of Goalpara and Dhubri districts through the State Disaster Response Force.
The Health Department informed in the meeting that medicated mosquito nets are being provided to the inmates of the relief camp and all necessary steps have been taken to contain spread of epidemic diseases, especially malaria, with the onset of the rainy season.
Immediate, as well as long-term steps, will be taken for strengthening of police force in the BTAD areas, including construction of temporary barracks to station the security forces to keep constant vigil in the affected areas. Logistic support will be provided to the Superintendents of Police of the affected districts for the purpose, said the press release.
