All steps to protect Biharis: Assam govt

[Socialist Christian]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=292486


---snip--

PATNA : The Assam government claimed that it has taken all possible measures to safeguard the life and property of Biharis living or travelling by train or other modes of transport in Assam .



Assam chief secretary J P Rajkhowa, in a three-page letter to his Bihar counterpart K A H Subramanian on Wednesday, said his government has ordered for suspension of the officers in charge of the Bishwanath Chari and Dispur police stations for dereliction of duty. Assam has requested the Centre to send 30 additional companies of Central paramilitary forces. A copy of the letter has been forwarded to Union home secretary N Gopalaswamy for necessary action.



The letter says the Assam police have arrested 121 miscreants and booked them in 17 criminal cases in different parts of the state. Four miscreants were involved in arson cases. Fifty-seven persons were arrested at Titabor in Jorhat district. Strict instructions have been issued to the DMs and SPs of all districts to safeguard the life and property of Biharis. At Titabor, where there was trouble due to the rumour of rape of an Assamese girl by some Biharis, the police intervened timely and dispersed the mob by resorting to lathicharge and even firing. The Assam government has also instructed the DMs and SPs to deal with any incident of communal nature, especially the one involving Biharis, with a very firm hand. Stern disciplinary and other action will be taken against any official found to be neglecting his duty, the letter maintains.



On the other hand, Bihar is inundated with complaints and frantic messages from Biharis residing in various parts of Assam , notably Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Naogong, about assaults on them and burning of their property.