Both the Centre and the state government have promised to provide adequate security -- fixed security pickets at village level as well as mobile vigilance -- round the clock to instill confidence among violence-hit to return to their respective villages especially those who have fled their villages just out of panic.
The violence displaced about four lakh people in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts of western Assam besides claiming at least 61 lives so far.
The GOM will be chaired by senior minister Prithbi Majhi, while the members include Nilamoni Sen Deka, Tanka Bahadur Rai, Gautom Roy, Dr Nazrul Islam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Rockybul Hussain and Chandan Brahma.
Meanwhile, the process of setting up of 112 fixed security pickets in violence-ravaged villages in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts to provide security for return of violence-hit people from relief camps.
Out of these 63 pickets are being set up in Kokrajhar district, 33 in Chirang district and 16 in Dhubri district. Each of the pickets will be manned by one platoon of Central paramilitary personnel.
As on date there are 65 companies of Central paramilitary personnel deployed in violence-hit district while four companies of SSB personnel are guarding railway tracks at vulnerable points. Another three companies of CRPF personnel have been deployed for guarding railway stations in violence-affected areas.
Meanwhile, 13 violence-hit persons died in relief camps so far including four minors forcing the state health department to sound high alert.
Assam's health minister Dr Himanta Bishwa Sarma said, "The health department is on high alert in view of presence of 8,076 children in the age group of 0-2 years in 303 relief camps across the three violence-ht districts. These babies stand vulnerable to diseases especially in conditions prevailing in congested relief camps."
He said there were 2,428 pregnant women taking shelter in relief camps. The health department has deployed 117 doctors in relief camps in addition to para-medical staff. So far, 93,789 patients were being treated for various diseases like diarrhea, dysentery and malaria. He said it was high time for decongestion of over- crowded relief camps to prevent outbreak of epidemic diseases.
