Home Ministry leaves for Asom to assess situation after ULFA attacks

New Delhi, Jan 7 (UNI) A high-level Home Ministry delegation left for Upper Asom this morning to assess the situation arising after the ULFA attacks in the state since the last two days.

The delegation is headed by Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal who will visit the affected districts of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh of Upper Asom.

Special Secretary G S Rajagopal and other officials of the ministry are accompanging the Minister.

The Home Ministry officials are in constant touch with the state government and has offered all possible help and support to curb the violence in the state, Ministry sources said yesterday.

The banned ULFA triggered a series of coordinated blasts and shootings since Friday night killing at least 48 people in Tinsukia, Dhemaji and Dibrugarh districts of Upper Asom. Most of those killed were Hindi-speaking migrant labourers.

The bout of violence came barely a day after Home Secretary V K Duggal reviewed the security situation in the north-eastern state in view of the 33rd National Games in Guwahati from February 9.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday described the killings of people by the banned militant outfit as an ''act of cowardice'' and ''against humanity''.

Strongly condemning the killing of innocent persons, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the incidents were an attempt to disturb communal harmony in the state.

He said the Government was always willing to talk to any group in an effort to find peaceful solution to problems, but killing of innocent people would not be tolerated.

UNI