Upper Asom returning to normal

Guwahati, Jan 9 (UNI) Upper Asom, where an ULFA depredation claimed 66 lives recently, was slowly returning to normal as the security forces began taking control in the three disturbed districts.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi visited the disturbed areas.

NDA convener George Fernandes met top ULFA leaders lodged inside the Guwahati jail and urged them to rein in their comrades.

''I had a frank discussion and according to the jailed leaders, the failed peace process is the root cause of the resurgence of violence,'' he told newspersons.

Quoting ULFA vice-president Pradeep Gogoi and Publicity Secretary Megon Kachari, whom he met, the NDA chairman said the 'dilly dallying' approach of the Centre had angered their colleagues.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister A K Antony and Army Chief Gen J J Singh are arriving here.

According to official report, there were no incidents since last night besides the bomb blasts at Guwahati city. But army has already started moving to the interior and combing operation had resumed.

Official sources confirmed that the operation would only intensify in the coming weeks. Mr Antony and Mr Singh, earlier, went to Tawang on the Indo-China border before flying back to Tezpur, where they will spend the night at the headquarters of the 4 corps.

They said they would review the law and order situation as the counter insurgency operation was being handled by the Brigade headquarters of Dinjan near Tinsukia.

Tinsukia district is still under curfew but peaceful. The chief minister met the affected people and assured them full security.

Curfew was withdrawn in nearby Dibrugarh district last night.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 had been rushed from outside the state by the Centre which also reviewed the situation last night, the sources said.

The chief minister, his DGP and the chief secretary have been summoned by the Centre on January 12 and a final consent might be taken from them before launching a full scale frontal operation against the banned outfit in the state, the sources said.

UNI