Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh interacting with journalists earlier this month.IANS

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday met Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag to discuss the situation in Assam, a day after his visit to the violence-hit areas of the state.

After the meeting General Suhag said that the Army is "definitely going to intensify operations in Assam", reports Zee News.

As the death toll in the two days of violence in Assam rose to 73, the home minister had on Thursday ruled out talks with Bodo "terrorists".

"The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has a clear policy against terrorism - zero tolerance. There would be no talks at any cost with the militants who carry out such heinous killings," Singh said after visiting some of the affected areas in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts.

"The violence is not merely a case of insurgency but one of terrorism. We are going to deal with this sternly," he said.

At least 60 adivasis (tribals) were killed by Bodo militants, while 10 Bodos lost their lives in retaliatory attacks, according to official sources. Three people died on Wednesday when police opened fire at thousands of protesters (against the Bodo attack), who took to the streets in Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district.

The dead include 21 women and 18 children. Many were also injured in the carnage.

Apart from Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, some top officials of the Union Home Ministry and some state government officials accompanied Rajnath Singh during his visit to the affected areas.

National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) is said to be behind Tuesday night's violence.

According to official sources, around 2,500 people have fled their homes and are staying in relief camps.

To protest against the killings, a 12-hour Assam bandh has been called on Friday by many adivasi organisations.