A jawan keeps vigil at a relief camp at Narayanguri in Baksa district. (PTI)

Imphal, May 11: Minorities Development Forum, Manipur, today called for strong and firm steps by the Centre and Assam government to end attacks on minorities in Assam and also to check spread of massacres in other states.

The Forum, which is working for protection of rights and welfare of the minorities in Manipur, is “deeply concerned” with the increasing incidents of violence targeting minorities in Assam.

At least 43 people have died and many reported still missing after the mayhem in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) on May 1 and 2. The national agency NIA has moved in to investigate the incident.

The Forum is concerned over the “failure” of the Assam government and the Centre to restore complete normality in the trouble-torn areas of Assam and also instill a sense of security in the minds of the minority community after the incident.

“We strongly condemn the killing of people in Assam,” H. Khan, president of the Forum, said.

Khan demanded that the Centre and the Assam government should initiate all possible measures to bring a complete stop to such violence and prevent such incidences in the future. “We have the apprehension that such violence may spread to other states, where minorities are in large numbers,” Khan said.

He also demanded that the Centre should take effective measures to reassure the minority community in the country that Assam-like violence would not be repeated in other states. The Forum is closely monitoring the developments in Assam in the aftermath of the recent violence and also measures taken by the Centre and Assam government to protect the minorities.

“We will raise our voice from time to time depending upon the response of the Assam government in the incident. We also fully support the movement launched by Assam Sangkhyalaghu Sangram Parishad under the aegis of the North East Minorities Organisation to protect the rights of the minorities,” Khan said.