Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday directed the Cachar district administration to take care of Manipur violence-affected families that have sought refuge in the state.
“Several families affected by the recent incidents in Manipur have sought refuge in Assam. I have requested the District Administration of #Cachar to take care of these families,” the CM tweeted.
Sarma said he was in constant touch with his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh.
“I am also in constant communication with the HCM @NBirenSingh and have pledged the full support of the Assam Government during this hour of crisis,” he said in the micro-blogging site.
Meanwhile, Cachar deputy commissioner Rohan Kumar Jha told reporters that many people have gone to their relatives’ houses. Arrangements are being done for the stay of people who do not have relatives here. Community halls and schools will be used to accomodate the people, Jha said.
Food, water will be provided to the people, the DC added.
The sub-divisional police officer of Lakhipur Dinesh Kumar told reporters that nearly 500 persons have come from Manipur to Cachar district’s Lakhipur mainly because of fear.
Most of the people came via the river – some went to their relatives’ houses, some went to local churches. More people are coming from the neighbouring state and a list of the people is being prepared, the SDPO said.
Lakhipur BJP MLA Kaushik Rai said the people coming from Manipur would be provided all sorts of help possible. He urged everyone to maintain peace and brotherhood and help the authorities maintain the law and order system.
Sources said many people who have come from Manipur took shelter at a community hall in a village in Lakhipur.
Authorities here are making arrangements to provide assistance to the people. It could not be known if the people received relief (food and other essentials) from the authorities till the time of filing of this news report.
On Thursday, Cachar superintendent of police Numal Mahatto held a meeting in Lakhipur with officials of district authorities and intellectuals of the Manipur community. The SP also urged them so that Lakhipur / Cachar is not affected in any way because of the violence in Manipur.
Cachar, which is one of the three districts in Barak Valley, shares borders with Manipur’s Jiribam district. The inter-district border (Jirighat-Jiribam point) is around 45km from Silchar town.
Manipur has witnessed violence since Wednesday with clashes between tribals and the majority Meitei community that has displaced over 9,000 people.
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Clashes broke out on Wednesday which intensified overnight with counter-attacks being mounted by rival communities in retaliation, after ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
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