Centre asks Assam to check violence, seize illegal weapons

New Delhi: To prevent incidents of violence, Assam government has been advised to take strict security measures, including seizure of illegal weapons, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

46 people lost their lives in May following violence in Baksa and Kokrajhar districts of Assam. "The government of Assam has been advised to adopt strict security measure including seizure of illegal weapons held by different groups and also for effective functioning of anti- extortion cells set up in various districts of the states including BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Area Districts)," Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said. To prevent recurrence of violence, 23 fixed/mobile police pickets have been established in the vulnerable areas. "...Patrolling by security forces have been intensified for area domination and to instill a sense of security among people," he said during Question Hour while responding to queries on violence in BTAD. Central Armed Police Forces and State Armed Police are utilised extensively for taking action against the militants besides organising peace committee, he said. Citing reports received from the Assam government, Rijiju said incidents of violence were committed by the armed cadres of extremist group NDFB (Songbijit) on May 1 and 2 in three villages of Baksa and one village of Kokrajhar district. According to him, violence claimed lives of 46 civilians. "The state government has paid ex-gratia grant of Rs 8 lakh (Rs 5 lakh under the state scheme and Rs 3 lakh under the central scheme) to the next of kin of the deceased belonging to Baksa district," he said. With regard to Kokrajhar district, the state government provided funds to the district administration for disbursement of ex-gratia grant of Rs 8 lakh to each of the next of kin of the deceased "which is under process of payment". The state government has provided rehabilitation of Rs 50,000 to each family whose houses were fully damaged.