Thursday, October 20 2005 17:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Diphu (Assam): The Congress-led Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) today (Oct 20, 2005) demanded a CBI inquiry into the worst-ever ethnic clash in the hill district which has claimed 77 lives so far.

KAAC executive member Mangal Singh Ingti told reporters here that a CBI inquiry alone could unravel the truth that led to the clash between the Karbis and the Dimasas.

He condemned the allegations by different political parties against each other as this "was not the time to blame each other but to heal the wounds of the affected people".

Ingti said that the district administration was not under their control but was directly under the state government but the Council was extending all possible help to the administration to tackle the situation.

The Council was also in constant touch with the state government and had informed it of the need for additional forces to bring the situation under control.

Meanwhile, curfew in ethnic violence hit Karbi Anglong district, which was relaxed today for six hours from 8 am till 2 pm with shoot-at-sight orders continuing during the curfew period, official sources said.

Union Minister of state for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal along with two senior officials of the Home Ministry was scheduled to visit the district today to review the law and order situation in the strife-torn areas.