Monday, October 10 2005 18:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Diphu (Assam): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today (Oct 10, 2005) appealed to both Karbis and Dimasas to maintain peace and refrain from attacking each other.

Gogoi, who arrived here today to review the law and order situation in Karbi Anglong district where 19 people have died since Saturday in ethnic clashes between the two tribes, told reporters here that additional police pickets would be set up in the affected areas to bring the situation under control.

He admitted that security forces were unable to reach the incident sites immediately as the affected areas were remote and far-flung.

The chief minister said security forces alone cannot solve the problem but all sections of people must come together to bring an end to the violence.

He appealed to leading citizens of both the tribes to work in close contact with the administration in dealing with the situation.

Asked whether a permanent army camp could be set up in the violence affected areas, Gogoi said the army has not been deployed permanently anywhere in the state but is usually called in only to assist the civil administration.

The Chief Minister also held a high-level meeting with senior police and civil officials and met representatives of various Karbi and Dimasa organizations.