Army resumes operation, Antony to visit Asom

Guwahati, Jan 9: As Defence Minister A K Antony and Army Chief Gen J J Singh arrive in Asom today, the Army resumed combing operations in Upper Asom, which continued to be apprehensive of renewed attacks.

According to official reports, there were no incidents since last night, apart from a bomb blast in the city. However, the army have already resumed combing operation, sources said, adding operations would only intensify in the coming weeks.

Mr Antony and Mr Singh would go to Tawang this afternoon in the Indo-China border before flying back to Tezpur, where they would spend the night at the headquarters of the iv Corps.

Sources said that they would review the law and order situation as the counter-insurgency operation was being handled by the Brigade based at of Dinjan near Tinsukia.

Tinsukia district is still under curfew although restrictions were relaxed for a few hours in the day as life is limping back to normalcy. The curfew had been withdrawn in the nearby Dibrugarh district last night.

The army has already started combing operation in Arunachal Pradesh from where the ULFA is suspected to be operating. Already 20 more para-military companies have rushed from outside the state by the Centre, which also reviewed the situation last night, official source said.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today visited the affected areas and directed officials to take tough action. The Chief Minister, DGP and Chief Secretary have been summoned by the Centre on January 12 and it was expected that the final consent would be taken from them before launching a fullscale frontal operation against the ULFA in the state, sources added.

The total death toll has stood at 66 after the recovery of two bodies from Barpathar area in Golaghat district.

BJP President Rajnath Singh and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh were also expected to visit the state today.

UNI