Assam to strengthen border outposts; violence toll now 11

Assam Thursday decided to improve infrastructure at the inter-state border outposts and provide more equipment to the security forces deployed there, even as two more bodies were found after the violence along the Nagaland border which took the toll to 11.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by state Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla in the capital Dispur here, a government statement said.

The meeting decided to repair the 81 border outposts and provide additional infrastructure like barracks, fencing, bunkers and facilities for water and sanitation.

An amount of Rs.17 crore has been proposed for the purpose, the statement said.

The work will be executed by the Assam Police Housing Corporation Ltd. under supervision of the state home department.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also took stock of the prevailing law and order situation in Golaghat district and the relief measures taken for people in relief camps in the aftermath of violence along the Assam-Nagaland border.

Meanwhile, no fresh violence has been reported, and normalcy has returned to the areas along the Assam-Nagaland border in Golaghat where nine people were gunned down by Naga militants.

Police Thursday found two decomposed bodies from Uriamghat area along the inter-state border, taking the toll in the violence to 11.

Police said the decomposed bodies were buried. They were identified to be of Robet Kaso (40) and Balu Ghatowar (35).

A home department official said 29 additional fixed security pickets have been set up along the Assam-Nagaland border to provide security to the people living there.

The pickets are being manned by four companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and five companies of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel. Three companies of Assam Police battalions are also stationed there, the official said.

Following improvement in the law and order situation, 5,099 people living in relief camps have returned home. Of the 14 relief camps, three have been closed so far.