Maximum security and compensation to ULFA carnage victims: Jaiswal

Guwahati, Jan 7 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal today made an on-the-spot assessment of the terror-hit districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia in Upper Asom, where 48 people, mostly Hindi-speaking, were shot dead by ULFA militants on Friday night.

The national highway blockade imposed by the affected Hindi-speaking people by placing bodies of their kin on the road continued as the protestors refused to disperse even after Mr Jaiswal's assurances of 'maximum security and maximum compensation'.

Indefinite curfew continued in Tinsukia sub-division,which was the worst hit in Friday night's carnage.

Mr Jaiswal, accompanied by top officials of the Home Ministry, reviewed the situation in the affected districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Dhemaji and also the security arrangements in the neighbouring districts.

The state Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), Inspector Generals of Police (Law and Order as well as Special Branch), commanders of the Army divisions posted in the area, couple of state ministers and local legislators attended the meeting.

Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner Absar Hazarika said the situation was under control in the district and no fresh incidents had been reported. ''The curfew has been imposed as a preventive measure and will be reviewed tomorrow,'' he added.

Mr Jaiswal, who met the protestors camping on the national highway since yesterday, assured them of maximum security and compensation.

The protestors, not in a mood to give in, refused to move the bodies from the road for cremation and demanded Rs five lakh compensation for the victim's families. The Asom government had already announced Rs three lakh for next of kin of those killed and the Bihar government also announcing Rs one lakh for the victims from the state.

Mr Jaiswal also visited the injured admitted in the Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh and reviewed the situation there.

UNI