The Assam government had received prior intelligence report of an attack by terrorists of National Democratic Front of Bodoland-Songbijit but it did not know about the target and spots, said a senior official on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference, Assam Commissioner and Secretary (political and home) Prateek Hajela said, "There was information from the intelligence that NDFB-S would attack. But we did not know about the target and the spots."
The Centre has been claiming that the Assam government was informed about a possible strike by the anti-talk Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland.
Hajela said the security forces have intensified their operations to neutralise NDFB-S and the state government has spoken to the Centre for all cooperation from Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh in flushing out the terrorists from their territory. "Already 50 companies of additional forces have reached and they have been deployed. We have also provided Rs 8 lakh per company to the DCs to build infrastructure for these companies," he added.
Hajela also claimed that the overall situation has improved and incidents of violence between Bodo and adivasi communities have come down.
Meanwhile, a security review meeting of the Unified Command took place on Saturday, where Army Commander of Eastern Command Lt Gen MMS Rai, Director General of Police Khagen Sarma, Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla along with Gajraj Corps Commander and other senior army and police officers took part.
"In the meeting, coordination amongst various central and state security and intelligence agencies as well as close coordination with state police was felt as need of the hour," an official defence release said. "There was need for covering gaps in the intelligence sharing and smooth passage of information laterally amongst various agencies," it added.
The meeting also discussed strengthening of the counter insurgency grid with additional forces wherever required, the release said.
The army commander assured that necessary reviews are being carried out to deal with the situation and also assured of all the support and possible assistance to the state machinery in maintaining law and order situation as well as in maintaining pressure on the anti-national elements through relentless operations.
Altogether 81 people, including 26 women and 18 infants, have been killed since Tuesday evening in serial attacks by NDFB-S terrorists, retaliatory violence and police firing across four districts.
Over 1.15 lakh people belonging to both adivasi and Bodo communities are living at 81 relief camps in Kokrajhar, Sonitpur, Udalguri and Chirang districts.
The government claimed that the overall situation in the restive districts has improved even as the number of people taking shelter in relief camps. "The overall situation is improving. Incidents of violence between Bodo and adivasi communities have come down and it is under control," Hajela said.
Curfew has been relaxed in all the districts of Sonitpur, Kokrajhar, Chirang and Udalguri and no new major incident has been reported yet.
