New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has denied that the army was late in reacting to the attack by Bodo militants in Assam, and said they had to wait for a request from the local administration.

"We were alert about the attack even before the news was flashed in the media. The armed forces stationed there were ready, but we had to wait for request from local administration," Parrikar said Tuesday night during an interaction with journalists.

"As soon as the local administration requested, we deployed the forces," he said.

The minister said 73 columns of the army were now deployed in Assam, where Bodo militants massacred dozens of tribals two days before Christmas.