Meanwhile, the state government finally started taking action on Sunday, shunting out the deputy commissioners of Kokrajhar and Chirang, and placing under suspension officers-in-charge of at least three police stations.
State Home Secretary G D Tripathi told The Indian Express that while Kokrajhar DC Donald Gilfelon had been replaced by Jayant Narlikar, Chirang DC U N Bora had been replaced by Puru Gupta. The sub-divisional officers of Gossaigaon and Bilasipara sub-divisions had been also replaced, he said. Earlier, the SDPO of Bijni in Chirang district was placed under suspension for putting in his resignation paper amid the violence last week. The SPs of Kokrajhar and Chirang are also likely to be shunted out in the next two days.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have started hitting out at both the Centre and the state government for inept handling of the situation.
“Why was Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi sleeping after knowing fully well about how the tension is building up...that tension might turn into such incidents?” said senior CPM leader Basudev Acharia here after Kokrajhar visit. He also flayed the Defence Ministry for delay in deployment of the Army.
Assam United Democratic Front leader and MP Badruddin Ajmal said, “Chief Minister Gogoi being also the state Home Minister, has miserably failed to tackle the situation.”
AGP president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta also hit out at Gogoi. “How can he now shirk responsibility and blame others?” the former chief minister asked.
Chidambaram to visit Assam today
Home Minister P Chidambaram will visit the violence-hit areas of Assam for two days beginning on Monday and will review the security situation, relief and rehabilitation measures. He is expected to visit a few relief camps and hold separate meetings with Governor J B Patnaik, CM Tarun Gogoi and his Council of Ministers.