Assam bloodbath: Army chief in state to review situation, operations intensified

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IANS, Guwahati :
Indian Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag reached Assam on Saturday, as the security forces intensified operations along the Bhutan border in the aftermath of the gory killings by Bodo militants.
An Army spokesman said Gen Suhag headed to the Army base in Rangia straight from the Guwahati airport and reviewed the security situation with the Army’s top brass.
The general is expected to make an aerial visit to some of the areas along the Bhutan border in Udalguri, Baksa and Chirang districts.
The Army has already intensified operations along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh interstate border and along the international border with Bhutan in the aftermath of the massacre by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) that has left over 73 people dead and rendered over 70,000 people homeless in Sonitpur, Kokrajhar, Udalguri and Chirang.
Gen Suhag had on Friday met home minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi over the situation in Assam.
The central government has already sent 50 companies of additional forces including those from the Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Reserve Police Force and Border Security Force to control the situation.
Although there has been no fresh incident of violence since Tuesday’s killings, the exodus of people continued in the districts. Assam Police sources said the Bhutan border has been sealed and a special operation might be launched soon against militants from the northeast hiding there.
The State Disaster Management Authority said over 70,000 people have taken shelter in 77 relief camps in the affected districts.
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