Assam violence aimed at communal conflagration: Shinde
"During the last few days, there have been wanton acts of depredation leading to the deaths of 32 persons, mainly women and children. Out of these 32 persons, 31 belonged to minority community. These innocent lives were lost at the hands of cadres of certain group. The objective of this group seems to be aimed at starting a full fledged communal conflagration," Shinde said in a statement.
" It is noteworthy that these acts started only after the group started steadily losing its cadres either by surrender or eliminated during operations when they opened fire on Forces," he said.
Shinde said the Central government could not remain unaffected by the killings and was determined to ensure the safety and security of innocent human lives.
He said: "The determination is all the more important since these incidents are targeted at the minorities. I strongly condemn the acts of this group which is targeting the women and children of minority community. My Ministry has already deployed 43 companies of Central Armed Police Forces and ten more companies are being sent. Ministry of Defence has also deployed 15 coloumn of Army comprising of approximately 1,500 soldiers. These numbers are not fixed and can be increased as per requirement."
The Union Minister said: " My appeal to all is to maintain calm and peace as the forces on the ground will definitely control the situation. The public leaders of both Bodo and Minority community must see to it that things do not deteriorate."
As the death toll in the killings by suspected NDFB (S) militants in two districts of Assam rose to 32 on Saturday, relatives of those killed in the violence earlier refused to bury the dead in Baksa district.
The relatives later agreed to to perform the last rites after the CM sent a minister to talk to the people, reports said.
The region had witnessed widespread ethnic violence two years ago between the Muslims and Bodos.
While over 100 people died in the violence in 2012, countless people were rendered homeless.
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