Assam CM Tarun Gogoi flays Chief Secretary for leisure trip after Militant attacks

Guwahati: Assam Chief Secretary Jitesh Khoslawas at the centre of a controversy for continuing his family trip and enjoying an elephant ride at Kaziranga National Park today in the aftermath of massacre of tribals by Bodo militants prompting criticism from Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

Local TV channels have been reporting Khosla's trip along with visuals of elephant ride with his family this morning at the National Park, about 200 km from here. "That is not good on the chief secretary's part. He should have immediately come back," Gogoi said at a press conference here.

The Congress government in Assam is already under attack over the fresh violence with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal accusing it of being irresponsible and failing to protect the the common people of the state. "It is a total failure on the part of the state government," he told NDTV. Sonowal said the state government should take all possible action.

At least 65 tribals were killed and 15 injured in a series of attacks by NDFB(S) militants yesterday at six places in Sonitpur, Kokrajhar and Chirang districts of Assam. Besides, three persons were killed this morning when police opened fire during violent protests by the Adivasis in Sonitpur. Around 2,500 people have fled their homes and are staying in relief camps after the attacks, official sources said.