ULFA-KNLF carnage leaves 56 dead in Asom

Guwahati, Jan 6 (UNI) In a terror-ridden 24 hours, Asom witnessed a total of 56 deaths in ultra attacks in its upper districts and Karbi Anglong, leaving a trail of trauma and fear.

In ghoulish attacks by suspected ULFA ultras, at least 48 people were killed and 20 injured in the Upper Assam districts since last night.

Terror again struck in Karbi Anglong during the day, when eight people were killed and nine injured in three landmine blasts at Langkar-Om of the district.

Armed operations against ULFA were intensified in Asom and a red alert was sounded across the state following last night's carnage.

''A red alert has been sounded throughout the state. I have instructed that all strong and effective steps be taken to maintain peace, law and order in the state,'' Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters here.

''We have already sent signal message to all concerned, including security forces, to take strong measures against the ULFA militants.

The security operations have already begun,'' Gogoi said.

''I strongly condemn the brutal killing of poor and innocent people. Such senseless killing is an act of cowardice and not of heroism. It will retard the economic progress of the state and lower the prestige and image of Asom,'' Mr Gogoi pointed out.

A red alert was sounded in Bihar as well, as a precautionary measure to check any possible backlash, with Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal and high-level delegation from Bihar due to visit the state tomorrow.

Curfew has also been clamped in Tinsukia this evening, which reported the highest number of six attacks of the total nine attacks last night.

Mr Gogoi confirmed that 48 people were killed in the nine shoot-outs last night, staring from about 1600 hours and continuing late into the night.

While 34 people were killed in Tinsukia district, eight were killed in Dibrugarh and six in Dhemaji districts.

Mr Gogoi said, ''This is undoubtedly the handiwork of ULFA. We strongly condemn cowardly act of killing innocent, unarmed, poor people.'' He pointed out that most strikes were in inaccessible areas and the government would take stringent measures against the ULFA.

Main opposition party Asom Gana Parishad and conglomerate of 12 other parties in the state also condemned the killings.

Meanwhile, Karbi Anglong District Autonomous Council that went to polls today, witnessed similar violence.

According to official sources, suspected Karbi Longpi N C Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) insurgents planted three powerful landmines that exploded while two buses, carrying polling personnel from three polling stations, were returning from Nomati MAC.

The explosions were so powerful that one of the buses was thrown some 10 feet off the ground under its impact, killing eight people on the spot.

The nine injured in the incident were admitted to Naogaon Civil Hospital.

The polling party was returning early as it was marked a hyper-sensitive zone. Those killed included a presiding officer, a second polling officer, one polling personnel, one ASI and four constables.

Earlier today, a CRPF patrolling party had a close escape when a missile missed the target at Donghalf.

UNI