Situation limps back to normal in Assam's Hailakandi district, curfew relaxed for 3 hrs

Hailakandi, May 12, 2019:

Authorities on May 12 relaxed curfew in the Hailakandi district for the first time since its imposition on February 10 as the situation improved after the communal clashes rocked the Barak Vally district on Friday.

However, curfew orders will remain in force to maintain law and order till 7 am on May 13.

District Magistrate, Hailakandi district, Keerthi Jalli, ordered relaxation in the curfew in the entire district from 12 noon to 3 p.m, as no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the last 24 hours.

DIPRO personnel were seen making rounds of the district before noon to announce relaxation of the curfew and asked people to resume their normal activities.

Although most of the shops and business establishments remained closed and only private vehicles were mostly seen on the road, the easing of restrictions allowed the people to come out of their homes and buy essential commodities.

Jalli, the Hailakandi DM, said prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC would remain in force in the entire district as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order. "The overall law and order situation will be reviewed and decision will be taken whether to lift curfew after 7 a.m. tomorrow, " said an official.

All educational institutions remained closed in Hailakandi district on the orders of the administration for the second consecutive day.

Internet services remained suspended in Hailakandi district and other two districts of Barak Valley since Friday night. "We got the internet services suspended since Friday night. The services will resume only after assessing the situation on Monday, " said an official.

Following clashes during Friday namaj, curfew was imposed initially in Hailakandi town from 1 p.m. and later extended to the entire district from 6 pm, as the authorities apprehended breach of peace and tranquility.

One person died, while several others sustained injuries in stone pelting and police firing. Several shops and vehicles were set ablaze by the mob.

The district administration has begun assessing the damages to shops and properties. Minister Parimal Suklabaidya assured that due compensation would be given by the Government after assessment of the extent of damage by the district administration.

To bring back normalcy and to instill confidence among the people, Rapid Action Force (RAP) has been deployed in Hailakandi town and elsewhere. Paramilitary forces are also deployed in the district.

The state government has instituted a one-man inquiry headed by Additional Chief Secretary Rajiv Kumar Bora to conduct a probe into the incident.

On Saturday, a high level law and order review meeting was held attended by top officials of law enforcing agencies, district administration and public representatives, besides holding of a peace committee meeting.

Superintendent of Police, Mohneesh Mishra said the first and foremost priority of the administration is to restore normalcy and later identifying the miscreants behind the violence. "Restoring peace is topmost in our agenda and later identifying the miscreants. Stringent action will be initiated against them for creating social disharmony, " he added.

District Magistrate, Jalli said the incident is the 'handiwork of some miscreants' and not a communal flare up as 'there exists unity and amity among the communities'.