Asom peaceful, govt vows to protect Biharis

Guwahati, Jan 11 (UNI) The situation in Asom was peaceful during the past 24 hours with no incident reported from anywhere even as the government vowed to protect the Biharis from possible ULFA attacks.

Government spokesman and Health Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma told newsmen here today that joint combing operations by Army, para-military forces and Asom police were on throughout the state to wipe out the ULFA. The operation was also going on in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya where ULFA cadres are believed to be hiding after the week-end carnage.

Mr Sarma said in all 61 people were killed by the ULFA during the past one week in four districts of Upper Asom, while eight persons-- seven in Karbi Anglong and one in Gosaigaon--were killed by other insurgents,bringing the total number of those killed to 69. Three ULFA rebels were also killed by the security forces during the period and an equal number arrested, he stated.

The state government had set up 50 relief camps in the affected districts of Tinsukia, Dirugarh, Dhemaji and Sibsagar where 7674 people had taken shelter, he said.

He further stated that the concerned district authorities had been asked to provide free rations and clothing to the camp inmates.

He also refuted the largescale exodus of Hindi speaking people from the state after the ULFA carnage. ''Only 100 persons had left Asom from Dibrugarh, that too on January 7. There is a sense of insecurity among the Hindi speaking people and the state government's priority is to restore peace in the state and instill confidence and a sense of security among them,'' he said.

On the visits of too many VIPs to the state, he said, ''the government is of the view that this is not the time for such visits.

Some politicians come to Asom only to damage the situation.'' UNI AB PL AB 1408