Carnage, curfew, chaos in Upper Asom

Guwahati, Jan 8 (UNI) Upper Asom continued to be on a boil, with the worst hit Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts under indefinite curfew after ULFA's carnage of 66 people since Friday night.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad rushed in today to pacify thousands of angry Biharis who bore the brunt of the attacks.

The army and the para military forces along with local police is out in full strength to counter the ULFA which went on a killing spree targeting Bihari labourers.

Besides, Bihar and West Bengal, red alerts have now been sounded in Meghalaya to thwart possible strikes by the banned ULFA.

''The death toll is now 66 and we are on full alert.

Vulnerable Bihari populace have been moved to safe locations,'' said government spokesman Himanta Biswa Sharma.

This afternoon Mr Prasad visited both the districts and pacified angry protestors who had been blocking the National Highway since Saturday. After his visit the protestors dispersed and the bodies were cremated.

Later speaking to newspersons at Guwahati, Mr Prasad asked for calm and condemned the incident in the strongest terms. He indicated that the Centre would take stern action against the ultras.

Asom Governor Lt Gen Ajai Sinha also visited the trouble torn districts and met the army top brass at the Dinjan army base to review the counter insurgency operation. The operation has not been very effective despite some isolated killings of mid rank leaders.

The state government, already hard-pressed to prevent fresh attacks and provide security to the visiting leaders, also had to contend with a possible communal flare up.

The government today appealed to VVIPs to defer their visits and not 'flare up' passions through their statements. Mr Sharma said only leaders whom the affected people were seeking should come now.

MORE UNI