Assam is Cong's laboratory of communal experiment': BJP- Assam violence rages, 32 dead

HT, PTI, New Delhi, July 24, 2012BJP on Tuesday charged Congress with turning Assam into an almost a "laboratory of communal experiment" by not taking adequate steps to prevent the spread of violence from Kokrajhar in the state and sought an explanation from the Prime Minister on the issue. BJP, which has already sent its team to assess the situation in Assam, alleged violence-hit people coming to relief camps are being sent away and not accomodated while the Army and Police are not taking action to control the violence which is spreading.
The party also alleged there is no governance in the state as no government representative visited the violence-affected areas.
"The communal riots have spread to more than 11 districts and more than 80,000 people have fled from their homes. Houses were burnt...The information coming from our team says the camps are also sending away people and not accomodating everybody who is running away from their homes," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.  
"We demand a statement from the Prime Minister, who is an MP from Assam, and the communal experiment of Congress should be immedately stopped. They should face up to the situation and make sure peace is restored at the earliest," Sitharaman said.
She also alleged the Army and the police are all there but are "just marking their presence" and not initiating action to control violence from spreading.

"Assam, we know, has been almost a laboratory for the Congress party's communal experiments," she said.HT, Guwahati / New Delhi:, July 24, 2012: More than 50,000 terror-stricken people fled their homes in lower Assam’s Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts as raging ethnic clashes between Bodos and Muslims claimed four more lives on Tuesday. The violence that started on Friday has left 32 dead so far but state police chief JN Choudhury said it would take “three or four days” to restore order.

Tensions between Bodos and Muslims over control of land and settlements have been simmering for a long time. Clashes broke out Friday night when four Bodo tribals were allegedly hacked to death by residents of a Muslim-dominated village in Kokrajhar.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi to “do everything possible” to control the situation.

The concern was conveyed as the Centre rushed about 15 companies (1,500 personnel) of police forces to the state on Tuesday for deployment in the violence-hit areas, home secretary RK Singh said in Delhi. The Centre had sent 14 companies (1,400 personnel) on Monday. (Photos: HT)

The violence has spread to 400 villages in the Bodoland Territorial Administered Districts, a report received by the home ministry said.

RK Singh said he was in touch with the state police chief and chief secretary and had also urged local leaders of both communities to help restore peace.