Kokrajhar violence a "blot" on nation, says Manmohan Singh

Kokrajhar (Assam), July 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Saturday termed the ethnic clashes in Assam a "blot" on the face of country.

Dr. Singh, who visited relief camps to take stock of the ground situation in the trouble torn district, said, "The challenge is to provide healing touch to the victims."

He was accompanied by chief minister Tarun Gogoi, Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Bhubaneswar Kalita, and said the Centre and the Assam government are working together to resolve the situation.

The ethnic clashes that erupted here nine days back between Bodos and immigrant Muslim community has so far claimed over 52 lives.

Traumatised people are now living in over 250 relief camps set up by the government.

Before he left for Kokrajhar, a delegation of Muslim MPs, led by Badruddin Ajmal of Assam United Democratic Front, met the Dr. Singh at the Guwahati airport and briefed him of the situation in the state. (ANI)