Assam violence:Over 1.15 lakh people living in 81 relief camps

Assam government today claimed that the overall situation in the restive districts has improved even as the number of people taking shelter in 81 relief camps in the wake of serial NDFB attacks has risen to nearly 1.15 lakh.
"The overall situation is improving. Incidents of violence between Bodo and Adivasi communities have come down and it is under control," Prateek Hajela, Assam Commissioner and Secretary (Political and Home), said in a press conference.
He said curfew has been relaxed in all the districts of Sonitpur, Kokrajhar, Chirang and Udalguri and no new major incident has been reported yet.
Altogether 81 people, including 26 women and 18 infants, have been killed since Tuesday evening in serial attacks by NDFB(S) terrorists, retaliatory violence and alleged police firing across four districts.

Talking about the relief camps, Assam Commissioner and Secretary (Disaster Management) Pramod Kumar Tiwari said at present around 1.05 lakh people are residing in 81 relief camps in the four districts.
"Apart from these, around 10 per cent more people come at night to stay in the relief camps due to fear psychosis," he added.

Tiwari also said a total of 364 houses were set ablaze by both communities in the aftermath of the attack. Out of these, 186 units were burnt in Sonitpur, 117 in Kokrajhar, 41 in Chirang and 20 in Udalguri.
In Kokrajhar, 52 relief camps have been set up, out of which 31 are for the Adivasis and rest for Bodo people. A total of over 82,000 people are taking shelter in these camps.

In Chirang, nearly 13,000 people are staying in 11 camps, of which seven are for Bodos and four for Adivasis.
Authorities have opened nine relief camps in Sonitpur district, out of which six are for Adivasis and rest for Bodos. Nearly 7,000 people are staying at this moment in these places.
Nine camps in Udalguri include six for Bodos, and house nearly 5,000 people.
Tiwari said, "There is no shortage of any relief materials like food items, baby food and blankets. Besides, others districts across the state are also collecting materials from people and they are sending these to the camps."

He also said some people have returned to their homes after security was provided to their areas.
Assam Principal Secretary (Health) Sanjeeva Kumar said the government has sent a proposal to the Centre worth Rs 19.9 crore for supplying essential medicines to the affected places.
"We have also release Rs 5 lakh each to all the four districts for purchasing medicines. The respective Deputy Commissioners are allowed to buy medicines from the market," he added.