Asom carnage unabated, death toll now 66

Guwahati, Jan 8 (UNI) The toll in Asom has gone up to 66 with fresh reports of violence from various parts of upper Asom pouring in.

Asom Governmment Spokesman and Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma today confirmed that death toll had gone up to 66.

''There were five incidents last night where there were two wave of attacks on Biharis, while security forces killed two ULFA men and a trader was shot dead in Gosaigaon,'' he said.

The state government today made an official appeal to all political leaders to postpone their trips to Upper Asom so that security agencies could carry out their work properly.

''It is an appeal,'' said Dr Sharma admitting the chaos.

Last night, even before the para military forces were moved from Karbi Anglong to NC Hills district and Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaisawl reached New Delhi after visiting Asom, the ULFA against struck, for getting the Hindi-speaking populace.

Attacking a village under Kakotibari police station in Sivasagar district of Upper Asom, they killed at least seven Bihari persons and injured three others last night.

Militants riding motorcycles, opened indiscriminate fire on Bihari brick kiln workers who were staying in a rented house of one Girija Konwar.

In another incident, ULFA ultras struck at a brick kiln in Moran, owned by one Pawan Halali and shot dead one Jai Mangal Sah and injured two others. In another incident, unidentified militants shot dead a businessman at Kachugaon in Kokrajhar district at around 1845 hours, Mr Sharma said.

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