Cry for CBI probe into clashes

GUWAHATI: The Assam Sanmilita Mahasabha and Nikhil Rabha Jatiya Parishad have jointly demanded a CBI investigation in the recent Garo-Rabha clash along Assam-Meghalaya border.

They have also demanded deployment of central security forces in the ethnic violence-hit area.

Nikhil Rabha Jatiya Parishad general secretary Banikanta Rabha told re-porters on Friday, "It has been 14 days since the clash broke out, but still the governments of both Assam and Meghalaya haven't taken any concrete steps for the clash victims; no security measures have been taken also."

He added: "Altogether 41 villages in both Assam and Meghalaya have been looted and set on fire. Almost 20,000 villagers have been ren-dered homeless and are currently staying at relief camps."

He also mentioned that on January 7, they had sent a memorandum to governors of both the states, stating demands, including each clash victim should be given a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 3 lakh to those who was gravely injured. "Till now, nothing has been done," he added. "We don't know why the government is indifferent towards this problem as the situation is really grave and people are still in a state of shock," he said.

Majiur Rehman, the working president of Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha, said: "The government cannot do away with such an attitude. So we have demanded that the governments of both states should furnish a proper data of the number of people who have lost their lives in the clash and those who have lost their homes and property before the public."

He added that the police, too, are showing complete indifference, neglecting their duty to ensure law and order.

"Police are playing mute spectators in the entire issue, stating that they don't have the authority to take an action, as it belongs to another state. The Meghalaya police, too, aren't bothered at all," Rehman added. Both the organisations have called for a protest against the government at the Dispur Last Gate on January 15.