Assam violence: Judicial inquiry to probe Bodoland killings

The inquiry would unravel the conspiracy angle behind the incidents and bring the culprits to book, says the CM

Assam government has decided to institute a judicial inquiry by a retired judge to probe into the outbreak of violence in BTAD areas.

“The inquiry would unravel the conspiracy angle behind the incidents and to bring the culprits to book,” said Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi.

He added that the government, which had already moved the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe into the incidents, “would leave no stone unturned to unearth the truth behind the incidents.” He claimed beefing up of security in Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD), which comprises of the four Bodo-tribe inhabited districts of North-Western Assam, had helped to bring normalcy back. There has been no report of any incident of violence from BTAD in past 48 hours.

“Anyone involved in the heinous and dastardly crimes would not be spared. The NIA investigation will help to unearth the truth behind the gory incidents,” Gogoi said. The central government, he added, was rushing in another 10 companies of CRPF, in addition to the 10 companies already dispatched to the violence-hit areas.

The chief minister said that steps were being taken to intensify patrolling with the help of the Army and para-military forces, to set up more outposts and pickets and to form peace committees comprising people of all communities to bring back peace in the trouble-torn areas.

However, refuting news reports in a section of media that the government would issue firearms to the violence affected people in BTAD area, Gogoi said that the government had not taken any decision in that regard.

The chief minister said the government would provide security cover to the people in the vulnerable areas by increasing the number of police pickets and outposts, strengthening of village defence parties, formation of peace committees and by taking up other security measures.

Security is being provided to vehicular traffic and trains moving through BTAD. Meanwhile, five cases have been registered in connection with the violence in BTAD and 26 persons have been arrested. A relief camp has been established by Baksa district administration where 498 persons from violent affected areas have taken shelter and arrangements for food, water, sanitation and health facilities have been made.

The security forces have tightened their operations against the banned militant outfit National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), which is suspected to be behind the violence.

Three cadres of the outfit were today gunned down in Sonitpur and Udalguri districts by security forces.