Night curfew lifted in Assam district, anti-govt stir called off

JORHAT/GUWAHATI: Security forces remained on high alert in Assam's Golaghat district where more than 10,000 people were forced to flee their homes following last week's attacks by armed Nagas. These homeless villagers are languishing in 13 relief camps in Uriamghat and Sarupathar in the district.

On Friday , district officials relaxed night curfew as there were no reports of fresh violence in areas bordering Nagaland and Golaghat. Assam-based organizations protesting against the state government's failure to protect its people also withdrew their agitation that had led to the death of three protesters in police action.

DONER minister Gen V K Singh, who was in Guwahati on Friday to attend a meeting of northeast chief ministers, hoped that there would be better understanding between Assam and Nagaland on the border issue. "A lot of measures have been taken up to defuse tension in the border areas," he added.

All Assam Students' Union will stage a hunger strike across the state on Saturday seeking security for the people living in border areas and protection of Assam's land from encroachment.

On Thursday, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and his Nagaland counterpart, T R Zeliang, discussed the border issue in the presence of Union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju in Guwahati. The same day, Golaghat district authorities held talks with representatives of seven organizations, which were blocking supply routes to Nagaland. Following this, agitators called off their indefinite bandh in Golaghat.

Reports said police were yet to trace five villagers from Assam who went missing following the Naga attack on August 12.