Army presence would have stopped escalation of violence: Gogoi

As the situation in the riot-torn districts in lower Assam showed signs of improvement, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said the situation would not have deteriorated had the Army been deployed from day one.

"We wanted the Army from day one of the crisis and now when it is there, the situation is gradually limping back to normal," Gogoi said.

Addressing a press conference today, he said 45 persons lost their lives in the worst crisis his government faced.

He said the government had taken all steps to maintain law and order and four ministers were camping in worst hit Kokrajjhar town.

A body was today found floating in river Gouranga in Dhubri district while 11 people were reported missing, official sources said.

In Baksa district, where clashes between minority immigrants and Bodos were reported only yesterday, three houses were set on fire at Simla in Daodhar village, they said. There was, however, no casualty or injury.

In the other three riot-torn BTAD districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri, stray attacks and counter-attacks by the two communities continued.

Curfew was relaxed today in Kokrajhar district from 6 am to 6 pm, while it was relaxed from 8 am to 10 pm in the minority-dominated Dhubri district as the Army continued to stage flag marches in Kokrajhar district.

Night curfew will continue in Chirang, the sources said.

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