'Arrest perpetrators of Assam violence'

The Centre on Wednesday directed the Assam government to nab the “ring leaders” who orchestrated the ethnic violence in the state even as it ruled out a Bangladeshi hand in the strife which has claimed 40 lives so far.

Union Home Secretary R K Singh said 1,000 paramilitary and 1,000 Railway Protection Force personnel  have been deputed to guard Guwahati-bound trains and the railway tracks leading to Assam.

Replying to a question, Singh ruled out the claims that some people involved in the clash have links with Bangladesh. “The international border is sealed. It is simply impossible for any organised group crossing over to India from across the border to carry out the attacks,” he said.

He said 2,500 paramilitary personnel were in Assam to assist the local administration while 2,300 more will reach the state on Wednesday night.

“Another 15 companies (1,500 personnel) are on their way,” he said.

Steps were being taken to stop the violence from spreading to other districts. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is in constant touch with Home Minister P Chidambaram.

National Disaster Response Force personnel were assisting the state administration in relief operations, he said.

Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 40 with the recovery of eight more bodies on Wednesday. Train services of the North East Frontier Railway were partially resumed in the affected sections. Five bodies were recovered from Bijni in Chirang district and three more were found at worst-hit Kokrajhar where shoot-at-sight orders and indefinite curfew are in force, police said.