Post massacre, normalcy restored in Kokrajhar

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, December 31: The overall situation in Kokrajhar district is peaceful with no untoward incident reported since December 25.

The operation against the NDFB (S) will begin from January 1 according to sources. Rajiv Bora, Principal Secretary, AR&T, Education, Govt. of Assam and in–charge of Relief Operation in Kokrajhar district monitored the relief operations and reviewed the situation. Bora along with Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner Thaneswar Malakar have been visiting the relief camps in and interacting with the inmates. They assured them to provide adequate relief materials, drinking water and sanitation. They also appealed to the camp inmates to return to their villages. They also said that relief materials would be provided in their respective villages.

Police pickets are being set up at appropriate locations and 24–hour police patrolling is going on. Further, the Principal Secretary has been reviewing the day–to–day situation with the district administration and police.  He instructed the district administration to expedite the relief operation and to ensure sufficient stock of food items to be made available in the camps. He also instructed the police to tighten the security measures to instill confidence in the people and to encourage them to go back to their homes. He held meetings with the organizations and meet the leaders of both the communities and sought their help and suggestions to encourage camp inmates to return to home.

On the other hand, the district administration has geared up the relief operations and relief materials are being provided to the camp inmates. Different organizations expressed their satisfaction at the relief operations in the district.

The district administration has divided the district into three tiers for smooth functioning of relief operation.  The number of relief camps is decreasing and many inmates are willing to return to their homes if steps are taken to provide security at the strategic location of the affected villages.

Till date the number of relief camp are 42 under Kokrajhar subdivision, 44 under Gossaigaon subdivision and five under Parbatjhora subdivision. The total camp inmates of Kokrajhar subdivision are 1,05,216.  In Gossaigaon, the total camp inmates are 1,25,092 while in Porbhotjhora there is only one Adivasi relief camp with 5,077 inmates.

From today the district administration has restricted the distribution of relief materials by political parties, NGOs and other organizations without prior permission from the district administration.