The Hindu : Bihar promises steps to protect Assamese

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 16, 2003

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Bihar promises steps to protect Assamese

By Our Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI Nov. 15. Bihar has assured Assam that it is taking all steps to prevent assaults on railway passengers from Assam and the northeastern States.

Asked whether he had talked to his Bihar counterpart, Rabri Devi, the Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, told mediapersons here today that he had talked not to the Chief Minister of Bihar but to the state's `strongman' Laloo Prasad Yadav, and he had been assured that everything was being done to prevent such incidents.

Referring to the AASU's call for a 24-hour Assam bandh on November 17, Mr. Gogoi said that while he was not in favour of this, because "bandhs do not help,'' the State Government would not adopt a confrontationist line with the AASU.

The Cabinet held an emergency meeting last night and reviewed the law and order situation following reports on assault of railway passengers from Assam and incidents of retaliatory attacks here.

The PWD Minister, Sarat Barkataky, told The Hindu that the Deputy Commissioners and the Superintendents of Police in the districts had been asked to be vigilant and keep a close watch on the situation.

They have also been asked to form peace committees in sensitive areas and associate prominent members of both the linguistic communities to defuse tension.

Munger DM, SP transferred

Our Patna Staff Correspondent writes:

The Bihar Government today transferred the Munger District Magistrate, M.R. Naik, and the Superintendent of Police, Gautam Goswami, for their failure to prevent the assault on Assamese train passengers by goons on Wednesday.

The transfers were effected after a meeting the Chief Minister, Rabri Devi, and the RJD chief, Laloo Prasad Yadav, held with the Chief Secretary, K.A.H. Subramanian, the Home Secretary, B.K. Haldar, and the DGP, D.P. Ojha.

The two officers had not taken action to prevent anti-social elements from entering the train and beating up the passengers and molesting girls.

The Chief Minister directed that immediate action be taken in all the cases that had been filed so far in connection with the incidents reported even from Bhagalpur and Katihar.

Mrs. Rabri Devi said violence would not be tolerated and residents of other States were like brothers and sisters.

Mr. Yadav said stern action would be taken with respect to all the cases as also in the case of administrative lapses. All those found guilty would be arrested, he said.

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