Assam Riots: Curfew Relaxed in Kokrajhar, No New Violence

Kokrajhar, Jul 30 : The situation in the strife-torn districts of Western Assam is limping back to normal with authorities relaxing curfew in the worst-hit Kokrajhar district today.

The indefinite curfew has been relaxed for the day while night curfew between 6 PM to 6 AM will continue in the other affected districts, official sources said.

The official death toll remained at 53 and there was no report of any fresh incident of violence.

Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts are the worst hit among five affected districts, the two others being Bongaigaon and Baksa.

More than three lakh people have been affected in the violence that went on for eight days and most of them are sheltered in relief camps.

With the law and order situation improving, the district administrations are now taking measures to persuade victims to return to their homes.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday visited Kokrajhar and announced a Rs 300-crore rehabilitation package and declared that a probe would be held to ascertain the cause of the clashes.