NEW DELHI, May 4:
Reacting to killing of several people, including women and children, by Bodo militants in separate incidents in Assam since May 1, the Centre today said it is determined to curb attacks on minorities which it said were aimed at starting a “full-fledged communal conflagration”.
In a statement here, Union Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said, “During the last few days, there have been wanton acts of depredation leading to the deaths of 32 persons, mainly women and children. Out of these 32 persons, 31 belonged to minority community. These innocent lives were lost at the hands of cadres of certain group.
“The objective of this group seems to be aimed at starting a full-fledged communal conflagration. The Central Government can not remain unaffected by these killings and is determined to ensure the safety and security of innocent human lives. The determination is all the more important since these incidents are targetted at the minorities.”
The Home Minister, in an indirect reference to the NDFB(S), the Bodo militant group believed to be responsible for the violence, said, “It is noteworthy that these acts started only after the group started steadily losing its cadres either by surrender or eliminated during operations when they opened fire on Forces.”
Strongly condemning the acts of this group which targeted women and children of minority community, Mr Shinde said the Home Ministry has already deployed 43 companies of Central Armed Police Forces and ten more companies are being sent.
“Ministry of Defence has also deployed 15 column of Army comprising approximately 1,500 soldiers. These numbers are not fixed and can be increased as per requirement,” he said.
Mr Shinde appealed to people to maintain calm and peace “as the forces on the ground will definitely control the situation”.
“‘The public leaders of both Bodo and Minority community must see to it that things do not deteriorate,” Mr Shinde said. (UNI)
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