Guwahati, May 3 – The death toll in Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) violence has risen to at least 30 as seven bodies were recovered in Narayanguri in Baska district while three children were recovered in the forest aea. Unconfirmed sources reveal that two bodies were recovered on Saturday morning at Khagrabari in the same district.
Assam ADGD (Law and Order) AK Raut told India Today that eight persons were detained in Kokrajhar while 12 were arrested in Baska in connection with the violence in last 36 hours.
Meanwhile, Assam Minister of state for Border Areas Development Siddique Ahmed has claimed that extremist elements in Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), an alliance partner of Tarun Gogoi -led state government, are involved in the recent violence in Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) which has claimed 23 lives in 24 hours since May 1 evening.
The BPF is also in power in the BTAD. Khaleque also demanded arrest of BPF leader Pramila Rani Brahma for her comment on April 30 that Muslim migrants did not vote for her party candidate from Kokrajhar seat Chandan Brahma. Chandan Brahma is currently transport minister in Gogoi cabinet.
All 30 victims were from the migrant Muslim community. According to government officials, hundreds of Muslims and other minority groups have fled their villages to safer locations fearing a rerun of the 2012 communal clashes that killed over 100 people.
BPF Chief Hagrama Mohilary has, however, rubbished Ahmed’s claim and appealed to the people belonging to minority groups not to flee BTAD. “Such claims are baseless. We are busy in rescue operations as many have gone missing. We will provide protection to minority people,” said Mohilary.
Indefinite curfew has been clamped in Baska and Kokrajhar districts. The Union home ministry has sent 10 companies of central para-military forces to Kokrajhar and Baksa.
Opposition parties have sought immediate resignation of Chief Minister Gogoi, who is also in charge of the home ministry. Badruddin Ajmal, president of Assam’s largest opposition party All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), has demanded the imposition of Presidents’ rule in the state.
-INDIA TODAY
