Asom bandh affects normal life

Guwahati, July 14 (UNI) The Peoples Committee for Peace Initiative sponsored '12-hour bandh' to protest the killing of four top ULFA leaders today affected life throughout the state.

Sources said the bandh was complete and no violence was reported from any part of the state.

Vehicular traffic was suspended and shops and business establishments were closed while presence in the government offices were negligible.

The incident surprised all as both the PCG and the Centre had agreed in principle that both sides would maintain restraint and start direct talks to end the three decades of violence.

''With this attitude, further talks with the Centre is meaningless,'' said PCG member Dilip Patgiri. Already there are cries for breaking off the relationship with the Government by the hardcore faction of the PCG, who charged the army and state Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Sinha had been trying to disturb the peace process.

Four top Ulfa leaders were killed and three others arrested during a joint operation carried out by the Army's Naga Regiment, Meghalaya Police and Assam Police at Tinfa village under Mendipathar police station in East Garo Hills on Sunday night.

Police identified the slain cadres as 'corporal' of the ULFA's 109 batallion Rubul Ali, '2nd lt' Prabal Dutta, 'lt' Rudra Barua and Dulu Kalita. The arrested cadres have been identified as Hitesh Kalita, Chandan Kalita and Bubul Ali.

A huge cache of arms, including an AK 81 rifle, four European grenades, pistols, several rounds of ammunition and Rs 40,000 in cash were recovered from their possession.

UNI MT KK SB VV1442