Centre open to talk with ULFA, to deploy more forces in Asom

New Delhi, Nov 20 (UNI) Despite drastic increase in the number of insurgency related incidents in Asom during the past two months, the Centre today reiterated its offer of unconditional talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom but said that more security forces would be deployed in the state.

However, increasing casualites among the security forces in the state this year is a major concern for the government and it intends to deploy sufficient troops in the state to ensure peace and security.

''The government is open to talk to any group but it has the responsibility to protecting the lives and property of people and we are committed to ensure it,'' Home Ministry sources told UNI here.

They said the centre was open to talk to any group but it has to be unconditional. Significantly, ULFA has demanded the release of five of its cadre as a pre-condition to start direct dialogue with the Centre.

According to the sources, ULFA is loosing grounds so to register its presence and instill fear among people and indulge in exportion it was indulging in militant attacks like that of twin blasts in Guwahati last month.

However, the Centre would not leave any stone unturned to instill confidence among the people. Already 118 companies of security forces have been deployed in the state and ten companies have been sanctioned last month. ''We are ready to deploy even more forces, so that the people of the state feel secure,'' they said.

Moreover, the intelligence network is being strengthened in the state to prevent further attacks, they said.

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