7 killed, 3 injured in ULFA attack,Centre assures addl security

Tinsukia, Jan 7 (UNI) Seven people were killed and three injured in an ULFA attack in Dibrugarh district of Asom today even though the Centre and the Asom government assured additional security in the state.

Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal visited Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Guwahati earlier in the day to meet the families of the 48 people killed by ULFA in the last two days.

Mr Jaiswal assured Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi that additional security forces would be provided to the state government in view of these brutal attacks on innocent people.

He also assured the families of victims that he would take up the demand for adequate compensation with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

Already, the Asom government has announced an ex gratia of Rs three lakh to the next of kin of those killed while Rs 50 thousand to the injured while the Bihar government has announced a compensation of Rs one lakh to the families of those killed.

Mr Jaiswal said the government would give a benefitting reply to those indulging in heinous crimes against humanity.

After visiting the families in Tinsukia district, he urged the people of the state to maintain calm and restore normalcy.

''I know that you have suffered a grave injustice, I assure you that the Centre and state government will take all necessary steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.'' He alongwith the Mr Gogoi urged the migrant workers who have been targeted by ULFA, not to leave the state.

Mr Jaiswal said by restoring normalcy and not fleeing the state, they will help the government in defeating the nefarious designs of the insurgent groups.

Regarding the possibility of holding talks with the ULFA, he said there would be no compromise over the sovereignty of the country.

''Nobody should have this misconception that they could challenge the sovereignty of the country,'' Mr Jaiswal said and added the National Games to be held in Asom in February would be held on time.

The Centre would provide additional security for this purpose.

Mr Jaiswal, alongwith senior officials of the home ministry and Intelligence Bureau held a high level meeting with the Chief Secretary and DGP of Asom. They assessed the situation arising after the serial attacks by ULFA and discussed the measures necessary to prevent them.

Meanwhile, a three member team sent by Bihar government visited the victims and extended them all kinds of help and support. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has already spoken to the Centre and the Asom govt demanding that additional security be provided to the Biharis in that state.

The bihar govt has already declared a red alert in the state and beefed up security to prevent any retaliatory attacks. The security in trains moving between Asom and Bihar has already been beefed up.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad is likely to visit Asom soon. Mr Kumar is also likely to visit the state in the next few days to express slidarity with the victims.

With BJP President Rajnath Singh expressing his plans to visit the victims, the issue is likely to take a political dimension.

Meanwhile, Mr Gogoi has not yet visited the victims.

UNI