Manmohan Singh arrives in violence-hit Assam to review situation(Update: Manmohan)

Guwahati, July 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Saturday arrived in violence-hit Assam to take stock of the situation.

Dr. Singh, who landed in Guwahati a shortwhile back, will visit Kokrajhar and Durabari Districts.

Dr. Singh had already spoken to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and asked him to take every possible step to bring situation under control and provide relief to people.

Gogoi had earlier said the situation is improving in violence-hit areas of the state, and expressed the hope that everything will be normal in the next two to three days.

"The situation is improving and I hope in the next two-three days the situation will be normal. And I have reviewed the whole situation. I met my administration, my police force, CRPF and the army also," Gogoi said.

Gogoi also announced an ex-gratia of six lakh rupees each to the next of the kin of those killed in the violence.

Thirteen columns of Army, Assam Police and 65 companies of Para-military forces have been deployed to maintain law and order situation. Flag marches by the Army and patrolling by the Assam Police and Para-military forces have been intensified.

Indefinite curfew and shoot-at-site orders are in force in Kokrajhar district, while night curfew is on in Chirang and Dhubri districts. Nearly two lakh people have taken shelter in 150 relief camps. Over 46 people have been killed in the violence so far.

According to police officials, the latest wave of violence was sparked last week when unidentified men killed four youth in the state's Bodo tribe-dominated Kokrajhar District near the borders of Bangladesh and Bhutan.

In retaliation, armed Bodos attacked Muslims, suspecting them to be behind the killings. (ANI)