Violence haunts Asom before counting begins

Guwahati, May 10 (UNI) Tha spectre of violence stalks Asom following yesterday's attack on AGP leader Pradeep Hazarika.

Intelligence agencies are apprehending fresh violence following the threat of ULFA to several other AGP leaders.

''The militants will strike the AGP leaders and for that the ground work has already been done. ULFA has made an open statement against a few AGP leaders who have been branded as 'traitors','' top intelligence officials said.

Police have decided to beef up security for protection of six AGP leaders, who had been named by ULFA.

''This is a dangerous trend,'' AGP leader Dilip Saikia Sonowal, who is in the list of ULFA, said. He, however, did not contest the polls this time.

The AGP sources said ULFA had asked the party not to make three of its candidates as ministers, if the AGP comes to power.

However, Police source informed that they have beefed up the security but admitted that it was mostly in paper.

''We have set up some extra patrol posts. Bot most of the policemen would remain busy with the counting and nearly 1000 candidates could be protected besides the other VVIPS,'' police said.

Realising the gravity of the situation, the AGP leaders are restricting their movement and blamed Mr Pradeep Hazarika for moving around on motorcycle even after receiving threat from ULFA.

In 1991, ULFA had kidnapped 18 top executives of the Asom government and ONGC plunging the Hiteswar Saikia government into a crisis before swearing in.

The Prafulla Kumar Mahanta government had hardly assumed power when renowned journalist and human rights activist Parag Kumar Das was shot dead.

The Tarun Gogoi government was welcomed by a series of killing by the militants.

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