Fresh violence in Upper Assam, 7 more killed

Guwahati, Jan 7 (UNI): Fresh violence has erupted in upper Asom late tonight wth ULFA once again unleashing another wave of attack on the Bihari workers killing seven and taking toll to 56.

Three people were also injured in the attack.Senior police source informed that, the motorcycle borne ULFA militants came to a brick klin factory at Khagorijan near Sepon in Dibrugarh district. He immedidately fired upon the migrant Bihari labourrers but as the laboureres also were anticipating trouble, most of them managed to escape.

But yet seven labourers were killed and three were seriously injured who were sent to Asom Medical Collage(AMC). There are unconfirmed reports of similar attack at Kakotibari in Sivsagar district but yet to be officially confirmed as the Upper Assam has slipped into complete anarchy despite high level visists of the top VVIPs.

With the new series of killings, the death toll has gone up to 56 in the last three days of killings by the ULFA. The state government and Union Government are in touch late tonight and army have been given order to shoot at sight in the curfew clamped Tinsukia sub division tonight.

Meanwhile the Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav is rushing to Asom tomorrow to diffuse the boiling situation of upper Asom following the carnage even as the Centre today talked tough indicating stronger operations.

Official source informed late in the evening tonight that Railway Minister decided to come as thousands of Biharis, braving curfew and cold, blocked the National Highway at Tinsukia with dead bodies, refusing the budge till Lalu arrives. This has caused communal tension in the district, which has a very large Bihari population.

All attempts to remove them by the security forces have foiled, as they demanded that they would cremate the bodies after the arrival of Laloo. He is visiting Tinsukia and then review the law and order situation with Asom Government.

The ULFA killed 48 Biharis in Upper Asom forcing Union Minister of State for Home Mr Sripakash Jaiswal to announce that tough action was coming as more para military forces were rushed to the trouble torn areas. He also visited Tinsukia area.

Talking to newsmen he said that militant groups should realize clearly that the government would not be cowed down by any pressure.

He said that final decision regarding the intensification of counter insurgency operation only after he meets his boss Mr Shivraj Patil and Home Secretary V K Duggal later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Beside these, a businessemn was shot dead in Gosaigoan while a petrol party of CRPF was fired upon in Karbi Anglong districts of the state in seperate incidents.

UNI