PM announces Rs300-core relief package for Assam riot victims

Assuring the riot victims in Assam that the causes of ethnic violence would be addressed, prime minister Manmohan Singh today announced a Rs300-crore relief package for the affected districts.

He assured that a proper enquiry would be held into the tragic circumstances and the causes of the conflict would be addressed. He said if it was found that the riots were instigated, the guilty would be punished.

Singh, who visited the violence-hit areas and met the affected people taking shelter in relief camps, said the ethnic conflict was unacceptable and had to be stopped.

Meeting the victims of violence in the relief camps, Singh said he had come to share their sorrow and pain and it was the time for healing.
 
Singh said his government would do everything possible to help the victims. The Rs300-crore package would be in addition to the ex-gratia from the prime minister's National Relief Fund of Rs2 lakh to the families of each of those killed and Rs50,000 to those seriously injured.
 
Rs30,000 would be given to people whose houses had been completely damaged, while Rs20,000 would go to those whose property had suffered partial damage.

The prime minister, who is on a day's visit to Assam, will take stock of the situation after ethnic violence claimed over 50 lives in the last few days.