Security stepped up in Assam after ethnic clashes

DISPUR - After ethnic clashes erupted along the Assam-Meghalaya border, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has said that ten more paramilitary companies have been deployed to restore normalcy in the region.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, Gogoi said: “Restoring peace in the state is a major concern, and ten companies of army have been deployed to control the violence.

“In order to improve the situation, the Meghalaya government has deployed the army. They are patrolling in the sensitive areas. Extra ten companies of the army have been deployed,” he said.

He said the first priority of his government was to restore peace in Goalpara and its neighbouring areas.

“Our Meghalaya counterpart is also treating the issue with equal seriousness,” he added.

According to official sources, two persons were killed in a group clash at village Gendabari under Agia police station in Goalpara district, while several houses were set afire in two villages in the same area.

With this, while five persons have been killed in the clashes on the Assam side, four have died in the East Garo Hills district of Meghalaya since January 2.

Earlier, Union Minister Agatha Sangma and her father, former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma, called up Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Home Secretary G K Pillai after which five companies - around 600 personnel - were rushed to the state boundary.

The Union Home Ministry has asked both the state governments to take immediate action. (ANI)