The Hindu : Violence abates in Assam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 22, 2003

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National

Violence abates in Assam

By Barun Das Gupta

GUWAHATI Nov. 21. The anti-Bihari violence in Assam is abating with the deployment of Central paramilitary forces and armed police in the riot-hit areas. However, the State Secretariat today received a report of a rape case. The Superintendent of Police of Golaghat district reported the rape of an eighteen-year-old girl on November 19.

The Home Secretary, B.M. Mazumdar, told The Hindu that six companies of the BSF had arrived and seven more were on their way from Mizoram. Three companies each have been deployed in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts.

The toll, according to him, has risen to 27. (Unofficial sources put the figure at 33.) The number of injured is 93. So far, 424 persons have been rounded up and 153 cases registered.

Fifteen relief camps have been opened — two in Kamrup metropolitan district, sheltering 41 families and 13 in other districts having 4,540 inmates.

Gogoi announces relief

At a press conference here today, the Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs. 25,000 for the grievously injured and Rs. 5,000 for those with minor injuries. Assistance of up to Rs. 25,000 would be given to those who lost their houses.

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