Centre vows fitting reply to ULFA, assures support victims

Tinsukia, Jan 7 (UNI) The Centre today asserted that it will give a fitting reply to those responsible for attacks on migrant workers in Asom and assured all possible help and security to the victims of violence triggered by ULFA during the last two days.

Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal today visited the Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts of Asom, where ULFA militants triggered a series of blasts over the last two days killing as many as 48 people, mostly migrant labourers.

Mr Jaiswal was accompanied by Special Secretary G S Rajagopal and other senior officials of the ministry.

The minister held a meeting with Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and assured all possible help in dealing with insurgency in the state.

He also discussed with the Mr Gogoi enhancing the deployment of central forces in the northeastern state to fight effectively the insurgency.

He also held a high-level meeting with the administration of the twin districts. Mr Jaiswal held separate meetings with army officials, Director General of Asom Police and state ministers and discussed measures to contain the recent surge in insurgent activities.

He assured the victims of the attacks that they will be provided adequate security and both the Central and state governments will take all possible steps to mitigate their sufferings.

''Nobody can bring back those who have been killed, but I assure you that the Central and State governments will take all possible measures to mitigate their suffering,'' he told the families of those killed.

Mr Jaiswal told them that in his meeting with the Chief Minister he took up their demand of Rs 10 lakh as compensation and government job to next of kin.

''The entire country is for all its people. Asom is not just for Asomese but for the poeple of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh also,'' he asserted.

Mr Jaiswal visited the Dibrugarh Medical College Hospital and met the injured who were undergoing treatment there.

Meanwhile, a three-member delegation from Bihar comprising three state minsiters also visited the region and met victims.

They discussed the issue of security for Biharis with the Centre and the Asom government.

Asom JD(U) chief Dulal Chand Barua said these attacks ''are a conspiracy the people of Asom and nobody supports ULFA''.

Stating that the state government has failed to tackle insurgency in the state, he demanded the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi should resign.

UNI